Peat bog alternatives?

[stuckinthemud]

To make a carved lap harp soundbox you cut a block nearly 3 ft long, 12” wide and 4” thick into a triangle then hollow it until the walls are about 3/4 “ thick. Now traditionally, Celtic lap harp sound boxes were roughed out then buried in peat bogs to season for months/years. The peat stopped them from rotting/spalting and prevented drying shakes. It also gave the wood a nice colour. If I ever manage to get hold of the wood to carve one (anyone in the south west got a big chunk of willow or black poplar?) does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative way of seasoning such a block of timber

 

[Adam W.]

I own part of a peat bog and you're quite welcome to borrow it.

 

[ChaiLatte]

Old bathtub and 12 3/4 bags of John Innes' finest.

 

[Jameshow]

To make a carved lap harp soundbox you cut a block nearly 3 ft long, 12” wide and 4” thick into a triangle then hollow it until the walls are about 3/4 “ thick. Now traditionally, Celtic lap harp sound boxes were roughed out then buried in peat bogs to season for months/years. The peat stopped them from rotting/spalting and prevented drying shakes. It also gave the wood a nice colour. If I ever manage to get hold of the wood to carve one (anyone in the south west got a big chunk of willow or black poplar?) does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative way of seasoning such a block of timber

Go up on Dartmoor and sink it, remember where though!!

 

[johna.clements]

Go up on Dartmoor and sink it, remember where though!!

I doubt you would find it again by just remembering. I would guess in the past they tied a rope to it and retrieved it before the rope rotted.

 

[TRITON]

I own part of a peat bog and you're quite welcome to borrow it.

Is it available to post ?.

 

[stuckinthemud]

If Adam could post it, I’ll gladly store it for a while, could be a long time before I return it though as I don’t have the timber block yet. I keep hoping the winter storms will deliver something suitable. Nearly got a nice chunk of alder last year but circumstances kept preventing me collecting it (4 hour round trip ). If anyone within an hour of Cardiff is felling a large willow or black poplar….I’ve made the pillar and harmonic curve, just need the soundbox block

 

[whereistheceilidh]

I am also happy to plant the wood in the bog above the croft. It certainly transforms the oak & hazel that comes out of it.
I quite like Chailatte's idea though, but commercial peat (as well as not being environmentally friendly) is cleaned, and it would seem to be the acidic tannins that do the work. Fresh peat packed around the wood in a bath might have the desired effect & get over the 'where did I put it ' issue.
Put the peat back once you have used it.......
You seem to have some within an hour of Caerphilly.

 

[Jacob]

Isn't tannin the active ingredient of peat? In which case tea might help? Maybe just store it packed in used teabags? Plenty of them about, collect them from neighbours?

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/292...hat,a potential natural preservative product.

 

[whereistheceilidh]

Isn't tannin the active ingredient of peat? In which case tea might help? Maybe just store it packed in used teabags? Plenty of them about, collect them from neighbours?

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/292...hat,a potential natural preservative product.

....but with a dash of vinegar?

 

[Spectric]

have any suggestions for an alternative way of seasoning such a block of timber

What about a sespit or septic tank.

 

[stuckinthemud]

Thanks all, I spent some time researching tinternet and suspect my village is surrounded by small areas of upland peat bog, but not the type using sphagnum moss, it seems Welsh upland marshes are based on other plant species. There’s a country park ranger station about 20 minutes away it could be worth contacting

 

[Ttrees]

You could consider a staved construction instead
I found this youtube channel from a link on the aussie forum, good video about a plane maker,
Here's a link to the harp maker, should you not have seen it, good watch.
You'll have to click the subtitles.

 

[stuckinthemud]

staved construction has been the norm for the past few centuries and does make a beautiful harp, it’s just my pig headed nature that won’t let me - if I’m making a harp in the 16th century clearsach style, I kinda wanna make it using 16th century construction methods