Ocean Wood?

[oregoncarver]

I carve a lot of driftwood. I take my pressure washer to it first, if it lives through it I carve it. I have also sliced off a few pieces to scroll. You can find some beautiful wood on the beach here in Oregon, most is alder which isn't worth the time to clean, but I have gotten cedar, redwood and Myrtlewood.

Recently I became the owner of a bunch of 1x12 x 8' knoty pine that use the line the walls of a riding stable here in the Portland, Oregon area. Have made a few boxes and Gnome doors out of it. Still thinking what else to make.

Arthur

[Burdez]

Here in Mexico there is a lot of very old wood around doors old tables and so forth the problem is non of this wood is ever discarded they find a use for it as good wood is very hard to come by here and when you do find some it is very expensive
Erssel

[Janette]

I've seen people use drift wood. They pressure wash it first. I don't think that the salt water penetrates all the way through - but I'm no expert. I have a great piece of redwood driftwood and the inside is just fine.

[miniwoodworker]

The History channel has been running a series on logging in Oregon. Last season one of the logging companies, Aqua Logging (if memory serves) salvaged logs from a river near the coast. Close enough to the coast to be affected by the tides.

Showed some of those salvaged logs at the sawmill. The outside of the log looked terrible, but within an inch or so of the outside, the wood was absolutely beautiful.

According to the series, these logs are highly prized for the beauty and quality of the wood. The 3 man logging crew pulled out probably what we'd consider to be a full load on a logging truck, during the season. Estimated value was over $100,000.

[wood-n-things]

I tried just washing a piece of driftwood ...I wish I had pressure washed it...Cutting it cost me a new band saw blade. The interior wood was beautiful but the salt and sand destroyed a brand new blade I soaked it in clear water and scrubbed the beejeepers out of it but alas...If you find a way to clean the sand out if it let em know....

[Janette]

Originally Posted by miniwoodworker

The History channel has been running a series on logging in Oregon. Last season one of the logging companies, Aqua Logging (if memory serves) salvaged logs from a river near the coast. Close enough to the coast to be affected by the tides.

Showed some of those salvaged logs at the sawmill. The outside of the log looked terrible, but within an inch or so of the outside, the wood was absolutely beautiful.

According to the series, these logs are highly prized for the beauty and quality of the wood. The 3 man logging crew pulled out probably what we'd consider to be a full load on a logging truck, during the season. Estimated value was over $100,000.

Interesting thing about that show Evie - after it aired - they were arrested because it is against the law to harvest salvaged logs without a permit. All the logs became property of the gov't or forestry services. They were charged a hefty fine - not sure if there was jail time or not.

Take this as a clue people...if you're going to do something illegal - don't let a documentary film crew in on it

[miniwoodworker]

Janette, that's sad to hear. Especially as hard as they worked to salvage those logs and then the government took them. While I don't know for sure, I doubt they knew a permit was needed. I remember one time, the lead man saying they were making the river safer to travel because of the "snags" they'd pulled out.

He was trying to earn enough money to refurbish an old boat he'd bought. Hate to think he probably had to sell his boat to pay the fines. (sigh)

[dragyn]

There is a woman that uses driftwood in making her wooden sculptures. Most are of horses, but I am no9t sure of her technique in preparing them. Off to google it again.

Here is a link to some pictures.

Driftwood Horses

and here is her site;

Heather Jansch - Sculptor - Driftwood - Bronze