Unless otherwise stated, your carving is made from white pine, and given proper care will last for many years. It has had 3 coats of sealer applied to it unless we have told you otherwise. The sealer that we most often use is spar varnish. Cracking or checking is of concern to most people. Some minor checking is natural and unavoidable; it actually lends character to a piece. The major cause of severe cracking is drying too fast. It is best to place your carving away from a heat source --- such as outside in a shaded area as opposed to out in the open or in full sun; or inside avoiding placement next to a wood stove, heater vent, etc. Do not set your carving directly on ground or floor put lath or something under the carving to allow air flow for your carving. Seal your carving once per year when placed outside (or whenever it looks dry). Any good wood sealer will do - we recommend either linseed oil or spar (indoor/outdoor) varnish. We usually use air tools, but you can just splash sealer on and smear it in... there is no big deal with sealing it --- just get the sealer on there somehow! Then, if your carving has eyes, wipe the sealer off of them to keep those eyes sparkling. Just one thing - please don't seal the bottom of your carving --- they have to have a way to get the moisture out! You can easily hide any cracking by repainting the carving with enamel paint. (I recommend spray-paint because it is easy and allows for deep penetration in the cracks). We sincerely thank you for purchasing your carving from us! Lotts Landing Chainsaw Carvings
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