Quote Originally Posted by Inknsteel View Post
I made some wooden hides out of birch and used them for a while with no problems. Just make sure you put a coat or two of polyurethane on it to seal it from moisture, and let it dry until there's no noticeable smell.
Hey, Inknsteel Thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate it
Polyurethane....hadn't thought o' that...not that I don't use a lot of it for various applications. One quick slightly off-topic example: I made a 8'X4'X4'H plywood whelping box for my Neapolitan Mastiff to have puppies in. I wanted it virtually plasticized for cleaning purposes. So, I got the can out and laid down one good thick coat, figuring I'd add a second coat the next day. Well, next day? that 7/8" plywood had sucked up all the Spar Urethane...you'd have sworn it was brand new untouched plywood. Bottom line: it took six coats to achieve the plasticized finish that I wanted. It worked out very well...I just wasn't expecting six coats LOL. Now...if I'm gonna do that to a hide, couldn't I just as well use pine?So far I've spent about $30.00 on precut pine( got halfway through assembly when the pine scent reminded me" What am I doing? I can't use this") as well as precut poplar ( which isn't actually poplar...*sigh* ) and red oak. After the poplar and pine, I figured I'd stop messing around and buy oak (nearly three times the price, but hey...who cares, right?...give her what she needs) Now it's looking like the red oak might be suspect....arrgh. I suppose if it comes to that, I'll order aspen lumber online and have it shipped...but really...it shouldn't come to that, I wouldn't think.
This is starting to become an adventure LOL.
Thanks Inknsteel I appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

GMB ( Rick )
amergin@comcast.net