Working with broken off 'dead' tree branches

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 :)

Hi Nick

Interesting project:)

So long as the branches are clean of any sap, dust, loose bark etc they should be fine to finish any way you like.

If you are unsure of what finish would look best, prepare a few test branches and try out your range of selected finishes to see what will suit your project.

Good luck :)

cheers
Wendy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RufflyRustic

Hi Nick

Interesting project:)

So long as the branches are clean of any sap, dust, loose bark etc they should be fine to finish any way you like.

If you are unsure of what finish would look best, prepare a few test branches and try out your range of selected finishes to see what will suit your project.

Good luck :)

cheers
Wendy

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Hey Thanks for the reply :)

If I was to paint them is there a special type of paint I would need? or should I use some kind of base for them? I want to make them a solid colour ideally, so not showing the veins and contours of the branches if possible!

As Wendy said... interesting!

Assuming the branches are properly dried, I'd simply prime them with a timber primer - available at any hardware store - that is suited to the type of paint you plan to use.

Give it several coats of paint, lightly sanding between layers until you've built up the finish you want.

For cracks/cavities that won't fill with paint, you can use a timber putty (also readily available at HW Stores) or even make your own. PVA woodglue mixed with fine sawdust works well. Or PVA and talcum powder. 'Cos it's being painted you could even just use an epoxy resiin. Dunno about the UK, but Araldite is a cheap, common variety of epoxy here. Shouldn't need anything fancy. :;

It should all be fairly straight-forward, really.

Just be aware that if the branches aren't fully dried then the odds are good they'll crack somewhere along their lengths at some time in the future, which makes such attention... redundant. :shrug: