nicko_h
5th July 2011, 03:22 AM
Hello everyone
I am not actually in the woodwork industry and actually know nothing about it! However I googled for a forum as I am in need of some questions answered by you pro's please because I am about to do a uni project working with the material!
Basically I am doing a creative project and will be working with dead tree branches, so I have literally gone out and found broken off branches in the parks from huge trees, taken them home and used a scraper to take off dead bark on the outside, then once 'kind of' smooth surfaced I have used a power electric sander and gone over it to make it super smooth.
Here is an example of them in their original form from the park,
http://www.pressedmemories.co.uk/images/before.jpg
and here is once I finished with them - this was taken a year ago, I did it as a feature in one of my friends deli shops and she hanged it off the ceiling with lights around it.
http://www.pressedmemories.co.uk/images/finished.jpg
So Im going to try do it again, but I now wish to paint them, and am wondering what my options are? I want them to look like a solid colour but am unsure if the can be painted and if so will they last?
Is there anything else I need to do in preperation for these? like use some kind of sealer or something to help keep them hard? they are pretty solid anyway I handpicked branches that were sturdy and tough.
Cn they be varnished or glossed? - or should they be? The one hanging in the cafe never had anything done to it once I finished sanding it smooth and is all fine still a year on.
Thanks for all your help.
Nick :)
I am not actually in the woodwork industry and actually know nothing about it! However I googled for a forum as I am in need of some questions answered by you pro's please because I am about to do a uni project working with the material!
Basically I am doing a creative project and will be working with dead tree branches, so I have literally gone out and found broken off branches in the parks from huge trees, taken them home and used a scraper to take off dead bark on the outside, then once 'kind of' smooth surfaced I have used a power electric sander and gone over it to make it super smooth.
Here is an example of them in their original form from the park,
http://www.pressedmemories.co.uk/images/before.jpg
and here is once I finished with them - this was taken a year ago, I did it as a feature in one of my friends deli shops and she hanged it off the ceiling with lights around it.
http://www.pressedmemories.co.uk/images/finished.jpg
So Im going to try do it again, but I now wish to paint them, and am wondering what my options are? I want them to look like a solid colour but am unsure if the can be painted and if so will they last?
Is there anything else I need to do in preperation for these? like use some kind of sealer or something to help keep them hard? they are pretty solid anyway I handpicked branches that were sturdy and tough.
Cn they be varnished or glossed? - or should they be? The one hanging in the cafe never had anything done to it once I finished sanding it smooth and is all fine still a year on.
Thanks for all your help.
Nick :)