Collecting Wood And Rocks

[radioman]

Can you get rocks and driftwood from the wild and if so how do you go about cleaning them.

 

[MasterDrummer]

for the rocks, put a drop of vinegar on them and if they fizz you can't use them, if not clean them by boiling them. Not sure about driftwood, but if it is from the ocean I'd imagine it would be nearly impossible to make it suitable for FW.

 

[madmom]

I agree with MasterDrummer about wood found in the ocean. You can find useable wood at a river, stream or even walking in the woods. Try to make sure the area is unpolluted. Certain woods such as yew, cedar, firs , birch (I think) should be avoided. Clean all bark off the wood. Cut out rotten bits. Sand down and scrub with a stiff brush. Boil the wood if you can for at least an hour to kill anythinng in the wood. Check again for bad spots on the wood. Place wood in a tub of water till it sinks or attach it to something to hold it down.

 

[afishdude]

I agree with MasterDrummer about wood found in the ocean. You can find useable wood at a river, stream or even walking in the woods. Try to make sure the area is unpolluted. Certain woods such as yew, cedar, firs , birch (I think) should be avoided. Clean all bark off the wood. Cut out rotten bits. Sand down and scrub with a stiff brush. Boil the wood if you can for at least an hour to kill anythinng in the wood. Check again for bad spots on the wood. Place wood in a tub of water till it sinks or attach it to something to hold it down.

avoid all pine woods

 

[MasterDrummer]

Yes, Pine and Cedar are bad. But I recall someone used branches from an apple tree in their tank on here. It looked good and was safe.

 

[skyhook]

I took some rocks from a small river near my house, scrubbed the #### out of them and kept them in very hot water for half an hour. i hope its ok :\

 

[dcfeeiv]

dont boil rocks!!
pour boiling water over them not the other way around its much safer

 

[syntax_error]

dont boil rocks!!

There could be air pockets trapped inside rocks. When you boil they expand and BOOM!
I'm right, right?

 

[dcfeeiv]

dont boil rocks!!

There could be air pockets trapped inside rocks. When you boil they expand and BOOM!
I'm right, right?

yeah... its not pretty at all