Diy Driftwood

[superjalami30]

I went to a local lake today looking for some driftwood.
Before I went out I did some research and had most of my questions answered.

One I have left thats unanserwed is as follows:

How can you tell the difference between hardwood and softwood when it's been sitting on the edge of lake for who knows how long?
Most of what I got today consists of small rootlike structures and sticks.

I'm currently boiling it, and will bake it in the oven shortly.

Thanks

 

[superjalami30]

**bump**

K, so softwood is bad I know that.

What about softwood that's been submerged/emerged for years?

I found some peices along lake superior here where I live that I'm sure is softwood, however the water level where I found it is always up and down, and the wood has been there presumably for years jugding the way it looks.

Would it be safe?

I'm currently boiling a peice and will look for any sap that "may" leach from the wood.

 

[mtnhomedude]

How can you tell the difference between hardwood and softwood when it's been sitting on the edge of lake for who knows how long?
Most of what I got today consists of small rootlike structures and sticks.

I'm currently boiling it, and will bake it in the oven shortly.

Thanks

Did you ever get an answer to the differance between softwood and hard wood?? I am couriuos also!

 

[madmom]

I'm not sure how accurate it is but what I do is press my thumbnail into the wood . If it goes in easily it is probably a softwood.

 

[Biulu]

I'm not sure how accurate it is but what I do is press my thumbnail into the wood . If it goes in easily it is probably a softwood.

That is not very accurate as willows, and poplars for instance have softer wood than the so-called softwoods. What you want to avoid in the softwoods is the resin which may be harmful.

Softwoods can be recognised by their resinchannels but unfortunately you need a trained eye for it.

I know that the physical properties of submerged softwood get better (it becomes much more durable), but can't tell you whether it will still leach.