Aboutmaura macaluso Expertise I can answer all questions regarding woodcarving, chip carving, scroll sawing, carving tools and techniques and can answer most questions regarding wood. I am not an appraiser of carvings nor an antique dealer.
Experience I am a custom commission woodcarver. I have been carving for many years now, have won numerous awards, and am very well connected in the world of woodcarving. I am the owner/operator of www.carvinginnyc.com
Organizations national association of woodcarvers, woodcarvers of queens, Richmond county carvers club, carving life panel of experts
Publications Chip chats, carving magazine
Education/Credentials Have taken many, many classes and instruction from many fine carvers, I was originally self taught which is the best way to learn. Many thousands of carving hours later and I find that I am now well-respected.
Awards and Honors best of show staten island & queens
numerous 1st place and other title awards at many venues
Past/Present Clients My work is now in international collections
Question I have a slab of pine approx. 4 in by 4 ft by 7 ft. My father cut this piece and many others from a single tree. This is the smallest. It has never been finished and has a slight bow making the surface unlevel. My father was always going to make a bar or something but never did. My father passes away a year ago and I inherited the wood. I am going to make myself a desk and thought about putting fiberglass resin on it for a couple of reasons. One to give it the appearance of a glass top and two to help level the surface. What do you think? and if I do that should I do both sides and all four edges. Help please. Thank you
Answer Hi Kim, sorry for the delay, I was away on vacation with no access to email. I was not supposed to recieve questions in my absence but for some reason, your question slipped through to me.
I am not familiar with applying fiberglass resin to wood but I am familiar with epoxy resin being used to achieve the effect you wish. Also try "bartop finish" If done properly, it should work although you may have to build a form first. Thanks for the question and have a good day.
Maura www.carvinginnyc.com
After reading your question again, I would take another look at this slab and determine just how slight the bowing really is. The best chance to make a nice desk from this is either to have the wood milled thinner(You would need to find a lumberyard or mill to do this) to remove the bow or to sand the top surface flat. I don't think that even if you encased this in epoxy, you could level a surface that isn't level. If you did try it, I think the temperature and humiditys affect on both the epoxy and the wood would wind up cracking it eventually. I really think you need to level at least one side of this, if not both and apply a standard clear varnish or poly. A slab of wood the size you are discribing will really need to breathe and have room to expand and contract as wood does.
