I have a small piece of maple bark, measuring about 2 inches by 3 inches, with a hole from a maple tap in the center. This was a piece my late husband used for sugaring. I'm thinking about turning it into a pendant by hardening the bark and shaping it into a circle with a 1-inch diameter. I suspect I'd need epoxy for this process, but I'm not sure how to apply it or which type to use. Can anyone give me advice?
3 Answers
Consider using a hardening epoxy. I've had good results with products from TotalBoat; they're user-friendly even for beginners. If you mix in a thinner, it tends to work better, so keep that in mind!
You could try a product like Polycryl, which is a stabilizing epoxy. It’s even better if you can use a pressure pot or vacuum chamber for deep penetration into the bark. After it sets, you can cast it in regular epoxy to shape it into what you want. Jewelry and pen makers use similar techniques, so you might find those resources helpful.
You might want to check out local woodworking guilds or makerspaces. Since this is a unique piece, getting advice from someone experienced could really help. They might have tips on the best ways to harden the bark without ruining it.
Thanks for the suggestions! I have plenty of bark to practice with!