Finishing Live Edge Wood With Bark

Live edge myrtle slab.

Finishing live edge wood with bark.

Then sand the sap wood live edge with a smaller headed sander to bring out the color and remove any bark or dirt. Once the bark is gone take a rotary tool with a sanding flap wheel and sand the edges down smooth. Cut the stock in the winter when the sap is not flowing. Then sand the sap wood live edge with a smaller headed sander to bring out the color and remove any bark or dirt.

A belt sander works as well. If you have a live edge slab that you want to finish first peel off any bark in 6 to 8 inch sections using a rounded chisel. Finish for live edge. Bark on natural edge bowl.

Finally use a spray finish such as polyurethane over the bark to get an even finish. Live edge walnut bench. Bacteria or mold growing under the bark will reduce its bond to the wood store your harvested pieces in a cool dry place. Don t use an accelerator so it has the opportunity to get in as far as possible.

Sand the whole surface with 80 grit continuing to 120 on the aggressive setting. Once the surface is prepped to 120 grit with the aggressive sander move onto a random orbit finishing sander. Or if you can put it in a kiln right away that is even better. Sand the whole surface with 80 grit continuing to 120 on the aggressive setting.

The other thing that you can do is to use thin ca between the bark and sapwood to help keep it on. Just drip it on and let the wood soak it in. Live edge bowl and turned box.