Finishing Log Carvings

If it is made from a whole log, it will split no matter what he does. There is no finish in the world that will prevent that. I think that a spar vanish/blo mixture will look nice and and help to prevent weathering of the wood.

-- Bondo Gaposis

BLO will get moldy and black outside.

-- Clint Searl.............We deserve what we tolerate

Don’t know what is in it but Anchor Seal is a product used to coat the ends of green lumber to control checking and splitting while air drying. It looks like milky varnish, is thick and slimy out of the can, but dries clear.

I know this is not a finish, but it doesn’t look bad.
It’s Not glossy; Just makes the wood look dark.
But, it controls the drying process and keeps the stresses equalized and that’s what you need IMHO.

As Bondo said, nothing is going to prevent a whole log from splitting, but the longer you can extend the drying process and allow even and balanced evaporation from all surfaces the better the results will be.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

Does bruning the wood with a torch help to seal the pores?

Also is there any problem with him making a mixture of spar varnish with engine oil..sounds kinda redneck but aye

I wouldn’t think a torch would help in any way I can imagine.
Engine oil, in any form, will be detrimental to the wood.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil

-- Clint Searl.............We deserve what we tolerate

A whole log over time will split and there is nothing that can stop it. Sealing the endgrain will slow it down and maybe reduce the splitting. It will split.

-- Bruce