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Fresh vines full of sap - can you bake them?

TimT

Member
Joined
24 Jul 2013
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117
I found some really cool vines that I think will look great in my jungle themed new tank:

scdw.jpg


Only problem is that they are fresh. Like in really fresh! Does anybody have any info on how to cure/prepare them for my tank and get rid of the sap?

I was thinking about baking them in my oven at fairly low temperatures. I read that wood start to char at ~120 degrees Celsius and some start igniting at 150. Perhaps leave them in the oven the better part of a day at ~100 degrees? While I'm home of course to avoid any disasters :)

After that procedure I would soak them the usual way and wait for them to sink and bleed as much tannin as possible.

Any thoughts or advice?
 
I'm not sure about fresh vines but I have heard of people sealing wood with fibre glass resin painted over it to seal. It's going to stink in your oven:) can't you just put it in the airing cupboard or get a friend to put it by there log burner to dry it out abit? Interesting idea you have would look pretty smart with moss on top
 
It looks rather a lot like Honeysuckle. I have no idea whether it is safe to use or not. With a bit of luck, Darrel will be along in a minute with a better answer !
 
Hi all,
It looks rather a lot like Honeysuckle
I think it is Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) as well. I wouldn't use them fresh as Honeysuckle has quite a few alkaloids and associated compounds <Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle PFAF Plant Database>.

I'd be tempted to strip the bark off, and then leave them somewhere to dry out for a couple of months, then I'd soak them before use.

cheers Darrel
 
I'm not sure about fresh vines but I have heard of people sealing wood with fibre glass resin painted over it to seal. It's going to stink in your oven:) can't you just put it in the airing cupboard or get a friend to put it by there log burner to dry it out abit? Interesting idea you have would look pretty smart with moss on top
An airing cupboard for two months would be a good option although four months would be much better! An oven would work too but use 40c max for a few (4-5) 12 hour sessions. Fiberglass is not really a good option unless you really have a lot of knowledge of the product but polyurethane varnish would be good, best of all epoxy could be used however, you would still need to dry the material.
 
Thank you both, really appreciate it!

I ended up giving them an ~8-10 hours yesterday in my oven at ~100 degrees Celsius in case that the verdict would be positive from you guys. They now weigh maybe a third of what they did before so I think all the moisture of the sap is out.

I'll maybe give them some more hours in the oven tonight but after that I'll strip the loose bark per recommendation of Darrell and then soak them in a plastic tank with a small powerhead and some active charcoal and wait for them to sink. After that it's time to send in the canaries (I'm looking at you little Chili Rasbora that me LFS sold me with only one eye + a couple of snails and a shrimp :) )
 
I tried honeysuckle that had been pealed from wood left in our wood store when I first entered the hobby and sadly it rots extremely quickly and takes on the same structural density as wet straw, like slightly rigid cord within a month or so.
 
Thanks Garaf! I'll discard the thinnest of the vines and hope the thicker ones have more substance. They seem more wood-like. Did you notice any severe change of water color or fish deaths when using them?
 
If you are really keen to use them, then as I say you could treat them with polyurethane varnish, something like G4 would see them last for years although it will darken the wood. If you are really really keen the coat them with West Systems Epoxy & they should last for 20 years.
 
They seemed wood like when they went in, but it didn't seem to take long for them to change.

I don't remember there being any discolouration or anything I just remember them being very mushy when touched as part of maintenance and on taking them out they were shot. It was a very long time ago I just remember it as being a failed experiment.
 
They seemed wood like when they went in, but it didn't seem to take long for them to change.
Hmmm... That doesn't sound too promissing. Which leads to:

If you are really keen to use them, then as I say you could treat them with polyurethane varnish, something like G4 would see them last for years although it will darken the wood. If you are really really keen the coat them with West Systems Epoxy & they should last for 20 years.
Ok! That seems like the way ahead then. Inspiring logs in your signature too! I'll try to Google up what those products are called in Denmark :confused:

Thanks!
 
Hi Tim, like I say you will need to be keen to go to the trouble of coating the wood,
You would need to ensues the vines are completely coated but if you do go ahead, they would be very long lasting.
Epoxy is widely available world wide, any boat chandler will stock it for instance, however it is not cheap & is messy to apply!
 
Hmmm... That doesn't sound too promissing. Which leads to:


Ok! That seems like the way ahead then. Inspiring logs in your signature too! I'll try to Google up what those products are called in Denmark :confused:

Thanks!
Ime west system has been available in the 3 countries I've lived in. Most composites supply places in the uk will ship to europe.
 
Thanks guys! West Systems is available in Denmark. This system seems like the a possible candidate:
WEST SYSTEM | Epoxy Resins and Hardeners
Ollie, is that the one you have experience with? Only wildcard is what the surface finish will look like. I hope it will be invisible under water and not a shiny finish like porcelain that reflects the light in an unnatural way.
 
Looks like the stuff. Foxfish will be able to give you a better idea on that I've never used it in an aquarium only on boats and planes:)
 
It'll rot really fast, with water changes, you are okay. Green wood/bushes etc, bad idea.
Old long dead, very dense/hard= best.

Vines coming down have not been done that much really.
LED lighting gives the best color and effect IME with that type of scaping.

Kessil Amazon sun produced a perfect light vine combo for a tank I tested them out on.
 
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