Post #201410 by Polynesiac on Sat, Dec 3, 2005 10:12 AM

Hi Aaron...how's it going?

As far as de-barking is concerned, I don't know much about non-palm wood questions (though I beliece BK talks at length about prep and storage in the carving thread, and lake may have some great inshight too) but as far as palm is concerned, I'ver noticed that if you husk off all the extra "frond" pieces and make the log look like these:

then they don't tend to get as stringy as if you leave all the exra frond pieces on. (these are from a 100+ foot mexican fan, so they were already de-froned years ago by tree trimmers)
DEFINATELY keep the logs waiting to carved off the ground (just throw a few 2x2's benieth them to raise them aoff the ground for air circulation) and laying down. also - don't stack them ontop of one another either, unless you put something betweent he logs (more 2x2's work great). I don't know how they will react to being in an enclosed area that gets very little air flow, though. all my palm is outside. I ususally try and carve the palm while it's still a little wet (like 3-7 months into the drying process) as the palm is like buttah.

For termites, unless your house is already infested (or the wood you recieve is already infested) you really have nothing to worry about. the little buggers don't prefer palm, but will enter if there is nothing else better around. REdwood also naturally repels termites (to some extent - once again only if there is nothing else better around), but ceder can be a magnet if termites are in your area. Once again, because you have a storage area next to your garage with a concrete slab - I don't believe you have much to worry about. Black widows, however, do enjoy dark areas and wood piles. There's usually always one in my wood piles. They're a little easier to see and take care of, though.

I hope that helped, aaron. keep carvin', bro! I can't wait to see the next one!