How To Make Your DIY Wooden Crafts Last Forever 🤩

April 20, 2023

WHY DO WE LOVE WOOD?

There are many reasons why we love wood and working with wood:

It is naturally elegant and beautiful.
It’s sustainable and recyclable.
It’s versatile, efficient and easy to use.
It’s very strong and long-lasting.

Furthermore, research has shown that people are happier and more relaxed when surrounded by natural elements like wood.

We could go on, but you get the point.

Anyway, as much as we love it, we don’t always take the time to take care of it. And here’s the thing: if you don’t look after your wooden goods, they will deteriorate.

That’s why we want to give you the best tips to tend to your wooden crafts so they can last a lifetime.

WHY DOES WOOD DETERIORATE?

First of all, it’s essential to know why wood deteriorates. There are three main reasons:

Humidity and temperature

Wood absorbs moisture. If it stores too much, it can expand and rot. But in a dry environment, its fibers will tighten, and it will shrink and crack. High temperature and light also affect wood and can alter its appearance.
Insects

Some insects feed on wood. If we leave our wooden crafts in wet or dirty spaces, insects will probably proliferate and damage them.
Poor maintenance

Even though wood is very easy to care for, if we don’t maintain it, it will degrade, and it won’t last as much. It has to be dusted, cleaned and fed.

Most of the job is done by protecting your crafts from moisture and insects and daily dusting, waxing and cleaning them. But there’s a little bit more. In a moment I will tell you all about it.

HOW TO PRESERVE WOODEN CRAFTS

You don’t need to work hard to keep your wooden goods beautiful forever. But there are some things you must know.

First, we have to identify if our crafts are made of raw or finished wood because they require different caring and cleaning methods. Raw wood is that which doesn’t have any coating on it. Finished wood, on the other hand, has a protective layer that refines it.

RAW WOOD

Sanding is a great way of preserving raw wood crafts. Just sand in the same direction as the wood fiber goes, and clean the surface with a brush.

You can also apply linseed oil with a brush and let it soak in. Then, flatten the remaining liquid with a clean cloth and let it dry for some hours. After some time, repeat to make sure the crafts are safe from water and dust.

FINISHED WOOD

To maintain finished wood crafts, clean them with a clean and dry cloth. After that, apply a coat of wax in the direction of the wood fibers. Be very gentle, don’t rush the process. If there are carvings in the craft, wait until it’s dry, and then dilute the wax in a little gasoline and apply it to every detail with a paintbrush. Let it dry for 30 minutes.

IMPORTANCE OF CLEANING WOOD

As we mentioned before, wood is a highly strong and durable material. If cleaned regularly, wooden objects can keep their beauty and always look new, maintaining their shine and luster. They will also be free from infestations.

We know the time and effort you put into every work of art you make, and how much thought you give to every craft you buy. Wood makes your home feel fresh and pleasant; we love working with it and being surrounded by it.

So take good care of your wooden crafts to preserve them for a lifetime.