Wooden Sculptures Benefit from UV-Protection Oil
Wood carving is one of the oldest arts of humankind and is enjoyed by many as either a hobby or a profession.
Andy Burgess has been a full-time professional tree sculptor for 13 years, after falling into it as a career and teaching himself the necessary skills. Based in Knutsford in Cheshire, Andy creates bespoke commissions from tree trunks and stumps with chainsaws.
He has completed lots of public work all over the country for companies such as Taylor Wimpey, New Care Homes, the National Trust and over 70 installations at Nando’s restaurants. He’s also worked with a few famous faces, including Dame Judi Dench, Badly Drawn Boy, and made several appearances on TV with Alan Titchmarsh. Two projects – a meerkat and a soldier – both reside in Andy’s local village and have become talking points and local landmarks.
“I like making things look better, so turning an old tree stump into a bespoke sculpture that will last for many years to come if looked after really interests me,” comments Andy. “For bespoke commissions, I generally use oak and cedar, but when carving in situ, I carve whichever tree stump is in front of me.”
When customers are paying Andy anything from a few hundred pounds to several thousand pounds for his sculptures, he needs to guarantee that it has longevity and will remain looking in top condition. Andy discovered Osmo finishes in his local specialist timber outlet – Atlantic Timber – around seven years ago. With a key requirement for burnt areas to stay dark as long as possible, the ‘12x UV-Protected’ comment on the Osmo UV-Protection-Oil tin piqued his interest.
UV-Protection-Oil has been specially designed to protect the wood, protect, maintain and restore exterior wood, leaving it looking in top condition. Protection of exterior wood is of the upmost importance as the colour can fade after harmful UV rays damage the lignin within the wood. Based on natural oil, it does not crack, flake, peel or blister. This natural protective finish has been produced to delay the greying effect on exterior wood due to exposure to the sun, whilst maintaining the wood’s natural aesthetics. UV-Protection Oil Extra contains additional active-ingredients perfectly blended in order to reduce algae and fungal decay and provide optimal protection during winter periods.
“I previously used Danish Oil, but it would flake and blister. The Osmo finish is comparatively more expensive, however, having seen the superior coverage that it provides and the longevity that it offers, I am more than happy to pay extra to get this high standard of quality. I now solely use UV-Protection-Oil 420 Clear satin-matt as I love everything about it – the thickness, how easy it is to apply, how it pushes around the carving and the eco credentials, to name just a few key features.”
Andy.
Before being able to apply the finish, Andy uses a chainsaw to carve the tree, does detail finishing using power tools, seals the fibres by burning them with a blow torch, and finally, flap sanding at the end. At this point, he applies the Osmo finish, which goes on beautifully.
Application time is dependent on the size of the sculpture, but generally takes between 5 – 30 minutes and is then left for a day or two to dry.
“Magnificent. Brushing my sculptures with Osmo UV-Protection-Oil gives them a really professional finish. I have numerous customers who have bought several sculptures from me and they add to their collection each year. They have all given me the feedback that since they have become aware of my Osmo use, they too have purchased it and see why I sing it’s praises!
“It never ceases to amaze me that when I apply the oil and it starts drizzling, water beads appear immediately. It’s astonishing how instant this is!”
Andy.
For more information about UV-Protection-Oil, head over the the product pages or contact the Osmo Advice Team directly on 01296 481220.
To find out more about the company, follow Andy Burgess on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.