Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/23/2009

Question
I have cut a pine Mattel which is 10 foot long and 5.5 inches thick and 12.5 inches wide. It was air dried for two months and hung in a stone fireplace.  I left the bark on the front which runs 10ft by 5.5 inches.   I would like to have the bark remain on the mattel.  What is the best thing to do to preserve the bark. Should I seal the wood? Should I spray the bark with something?  Thank you, Jerry

Answer
Hi Jerry
Nice to hear from you.
As you already know, the bark falls off the wood as the wood dries out. The wood shrinks and the bark simply falls off.
So the key is to try to prevent this.
Personally I would seal the wood before its exposed to winter heating or a fire in the fireplace.
But if you can leave the wood longer than the two months its had that would allow the actual wood to dry some more (the bark is likely dry now.)
I would use a poly and brush it on the bark and the edge cut of the bark as well as the face.
Are you going to seal the wood also? I think its best but the wood must be dry for that.
Any pieces of bark that do fall off can be glued back on with a glue like PL 400.
Great question
Eileen