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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A couple weeks ago, I purchased a chain saw log art piece (whimsical Christmas tree) at a local crafts fair. It stands about 3 ½ feet tall and the largest diameter is 13 inches. It was painted from top to bottom with 2 coats of poly on it when I purchased it. I knew he didn’t do that at the crafts fair but didn’t know when it was done. It has cracks in it but that is to be expected from a carved log.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I took it home and was moving it around on my deck trying to decide where I liked it. I noticed that whenever I moved it, there was a damp spot where it had been. Sure enough, the bottom was not treated and clearly had not finished drying. I took it into the shop, mounted it upside down on some saw horses and proceeded to treat the bottom with poly. I had a pint of wipe on poly that was about ¾ full. It soaked up the whole can. I also noticed that the crack at the top (since it was upside down) leaked poly so the crack runs through the whole log. I will, at some point, pour epoxy down the larger cracks to help keep the log in tack as long as possible. It will sit under a covered deck (so out of the elements) but the deck is not climate controlled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>So, finally, to the questions: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For the epoxy – when is “at some point”? If I do it now, the log is still drying, will that be an issue? Could the epoxy act as a wedge and split the log further? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Should I wait until late spring/early summer to let it dry more?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Should I wait until the log dries completely? I know the old adage is 1 year for every inch and I realize the tree is tapered (so not full 13 inches) but is that 6 or 7 years or a couple years (gets hot here for Arkansas summers)? Will that be too late (log split beyond repair)? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Thanks for the help. Haven’t dealt with a whole log situation before.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Brush Script MT"'>Chuck<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>