Care for Carving

Care and Maintenance of Your Chainsaw Art 

I recommend saturating your chainsaw carving with 2/3 linseed oil and 1/3 paint thinner or turpentine. I saturate the front first and just lightly treat the back.  This will force the back of the carving to dry faster and put the stress for cracking there. When piece is done cracking, treat all of it equally.  

Place your sculpture on a coaster, brick, rocks, or something to make sure it is completely dry from all moisture and oil so it wont discolor flooring.  If you choose to put your carving outside, do not place directly on the ground.  It can soak up the moisture from the ground and cause the bottom to decompose.  

If you have problems with parts darkening, treat those places with bleach when the wood is dry.  When it gets back to the color you want, retreat it with your oil mix. Super Deck (oil based, transparent, natural) from Sherwin Williams is also an excellent product.