Wooden cross

[Baldhead]

I may have to make a small wooden cross to mark a grave, would European Oak be ok, how would I finish it and how could I slow down decay where it's in the ground?

Stew

 

[undergroundhunter]

European Oak would be fine, you could sit the part that is going in the ground in old engine oil for a few days, this works well on fence posts as well.

Matt

 

[marcros]

have a search for preserving it. I would probably use an osmo light oak colour and uv oil, because they are available in small pots (i did on a bench). I think on the thread, the sikens product came out top.

 

[MBcarpentry]

I made a temporary cross grave marker for a grandparent out of American white oak 10 years ago, just finished it with yacht varnish, it was on the grave for 4 months and remained as good as when 1st positioned. So European oak should be just fine with any sort of external finish applied Osmo polyx would be ideal.

 

[Baldhead]

Thanks guys, MBcarpentry this is not a temporary grave marker, it's a long story but the MIL is 100 in April, she lost one of the twins she was carrying to spina bifida a few days after his birth, she has only just started to tell my wife about how and why he was buried without a service and or headstone.
My wife has contacted the vicar to see if it's acceptable to erect a small cross with his name on, she has insisted it has to be very plain, obviously I'd like to think it would last a good few years.
At the time of his death (1960) her parents just couldn't afford a headstone.
I'm really chuffed that she asked me to make something for a lost loved one she can't remember.

Stew

 

[Lons]

Hi Stew

Might be worth seeing if you can get hold of an old oak gatepost, they're usually 200 or 300mm square and seem to last forever. I had one a while ago which yielded some lovely timber. I think Stan Dawson at Kirkley might be worth a try but could be wrong.
Some of the sawmills still do treated oak as well I think though more likely to split.

Regards
Bob

PS; How are you doing? Haven't spoken for a while.

 

[Yetty]

I'd soak the oak in some clear Cuprinol 5 star for a couple of days.

 

[Baldhead]

Bob my SIL has been on at me for ages to visit Stan Dawson's, although I have some oak it's probably a good idea to give them a call, thanks for that.

Stew

 

[joiner_sim]

Hi, I made a simple memorial cross a few years ago out of african iroko. I coated the base with bitumen and it seemed to do the job. You can see this on the crafts page of my website if you're interested.