I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch (gumtree)
about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it up in the
flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to drill a
hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod stuck in
the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy

On Tue 17 Feb 2009 04:24:12p, davy wrote in
u:

I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch
(gumtree) about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it
up in the flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to
drill a hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod
stuck in the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather
proofing or rot proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I
don't want to use any chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy


I'm interested in seeing what other say about it, but one thing I've
been told is that water likes to leach right up the branch fibers, so
I'd try very hard to to seal off that bottom end. Including the drilled
hole. Do you consider paint or something similar to be a chemical in
that context?

I figure you know it can't last forever but you might be interested in
the story of this carving. After 16 years of repairing rot, they're
probably going to give up and cast it in metal. It's a beautiful piece
and we're grateful we were around during it's first incarnation.
http://www.harrywhitehorse.com/effigytree/index.html

davy wrote:

I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch (gumtree)
about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it up in the
flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to drill a
hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod stuck in
the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy


I know you requested no chemicals but where's the fun in that?

One possibility that might pass as acceptable is to soak the
butt end in borax solution, harmless to people and animals but
deadly to insects and fungus.

Dissolve all the 40 mule team borax that will go into solution
in a couple of gallons of water and set the butt in a five gallon bucket
with the solution and let soak for several weeks.

That would probably gain you a few extra years.

basilisk

davy wrote:
I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch (gumtree)
about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it up in the
flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to drill a
hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod stuck in
the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy

Dip it in molten wax.

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

All stressed out, and no one to choke...

Would you consider AnchorSeal a chemical? I assume it is mostly wax. Does
anyone know if it would hold up for this application?

SteveP.

"Dave Balderstone" wrote in message
news:170220091919368068%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_Sbalderst one.ca...
In article , davy
wrote:

What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals

Use chemicals, don't let it touch the ground, or embrace rot as part of
the art.

Dan wrote:
On Tue 17 Feb 2009 04:24:12p, davy wrote in
u:

I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch
(gumtree) about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it
up in the flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to
drill a hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod
stuck in the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather
proofing or rot proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I
don't want to use any chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy


I'm interested in seeing what other say about it, but one thing I've
been told is that water likes to leach right up the branch fibers, so
I'd try very hard to to seal off that bottom end. Including the drilled
hole. Do you consider paint or something similar to be a chemical in
that context?

I figure you know it can't last forever but you might be interested in
the story of this carving. After 16 years of repairing rot, they're
probably going to give up and cast it in metal. It's a beautiful piece
and we're grateful we were around during it's first incarnation.
http://www.harrywhitehorse.com/effigytree/index.html

Its sort of a little house that I want the kids to play with.
I don't want to douse it in some highly toxic solution that will make
the piece last forever but kill the kids.
davy

Maybe spreading a coat of epoxy over the bottom of it
would seal it against ground contact
CC


"davy" wrote in message
u...
Dan wrote:
On Tue 17 Feb 2009 04:24:12p, davy wrote in
u:
I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch
(gumtree) about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand
it
up in the flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was
going to
drill a hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel
rod
stuck in the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather
proofing or rot proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I
don't want to use any chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy


I'm interested in seeing what other say about it, but one thing
I've
been told is that water likes to leach right up the branch fibers,
so
I'd try very hard to to seal off that bottom end. Including the
drilled
hole. Do you consider paint or something similar to be a chemical
in
that context? I figure you know it can't last forever but you might
be interested in
the story of this carving. After 16 years of repairing rot, they're
probably going to give up and cast it in metal. It's a beautiful
piece
and we're grateful we were around during it's first incarnation.
http://www.harrywhitehorse.com/effigytree/index.html

Its sort of a little house that I want the kids to play with.
I don't want to douse it in some highly toxic solution that will
make the piece last forever but kill the kids.
davy

Dave Balderstone wrote:
In article , davy
wrote:

What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals

Use chemicals, don't let it touch the ground, or embrace rot as part of
the art.


I have read that here in the Northwest, the tribes on the coast
considered their totem poles to be transitory. Rotting was a part of
the art, so to speak.

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:24:12 +1100, davy wrote:

I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch (gumtree)
about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it up in the
flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to drill a
hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod stuck in
the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy


Make sure the wood does not touch the ground.

"basilisk" wrote in message
y1...
davy wrote:

I have made a piece of garden art from a length of tree branch (gumtree)
about 8" (200mm)wide and 12"(300mm)tall. I want to stand it up in the
flower bed of the garden. To hold it in place I was going to drill a
hole up the centre of the bottom and place it over a steel rod stuck in
the ground. What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals.
The top will have a roof-like protection.
Thanks,
davy


I know you requested no chemicals but where's the fun in that?

One possibility that might pass as acceptable is to soak the
butt end in borax solution, harmless to people and animals but
deadly to insects and fungus.

Dissolve all the 40 mule team borax that will go into solution
in a couple of gallons of water and set the butt in a five gallon bucket
with the solution and let soak for several weeks.

fyi: the hotter the water, the more borax you can dissolve in water.

That would probably gain you a few extra years.

basilisk

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:19:36 -0600, Dave Balderstone
wrote:

In article , davy
wrote:

What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals

Use chemicals, don't let it touch the ground, or embrace rot as part of
the art.

....emphasize "...don't let it touch the ground!" Hold it up a couple
of inches...get yourself a couple of tubes of silicone and apply
liberally to the end grain...let it dry and do it again...be ready to
re-apply whatever finish is on the upper portion at intervals,
hopefully before it gets damaged by sun and water. Bugs need entry
points, make sure they are filled and no bugs...easier said than done.

cg

Dave Balderstone wrote:
In article , Charlie Groh
wrote:

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:19:36 -0600, Dave Balderstone
wrote:

In article , davy
wrote:

What nifty suggestions have you for weather proofing or rot
proofing the base where it touches the ground?. I don't want to use any
chemicals
Use chemicals, don't let it touch the ground, or embrace rot as part of
the art.
...emphasize "...don't let it touch the ground!" Hold it up a couple
of inches...get yourself a couple of tubes of silicone and apply
liberally to the end grain...let it dry and do it again...be ready to
re-apply whatever finish is on the upper portion at intervals,
hopefully before it gets damaged by sun and water. Bugs need entry
points, make sure they are filled and no bugs...easier said than done.

cg

After further reflection, perhaps a ring of cedar or redwood would
accomplish the goal?

After reading the last couple of contributions I went to the local
gardening shop and bought a terracotta pot saucer about the right
diameter and have since turned it upside down and siliconed my work of
art on to it. It works really well!
The colour blends in and the flange of the saucer looks like a little
pedestal and most importantly, it keeps the wood about an inch above the
ground.
So thanks for all your thoughts on this subject which lead me to a very
satisfying result.
cheers,
davy