Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood .

**Jenny Ryan** Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:04 am

Well I have been asked by a few people how I made the effects I used on the timber in my last diorama . These are either direct or variant tips of Chuck Doans excellent techniques .

The first step is to give your wood some character (unlike straight basswood ) , use a wire brush to roughen the grain by brushing down the grain . Next we will add some knots to the timber . To do this is really simple . Drill a small hole in the timber . use a pointy scalpel & twist in the hole to make a small conical shaped hole , then super glue some cocktail sticks in the holes .

Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood . Wpostwithknot

Once dried cut them off flush with a scalpel & lightly sand the area .

Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood . Wpostwithknot1

To make them ultra realistic use a pin & poke tiny holes into the toothpick , these represent the holes made in the knots by borer worms .

Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood . Wpostwithknot2

Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood . Wpostwithknot2

On some knots poke the scalpel in from around halfway to the edge , this represents where the knot has split from milling in the lumber yard !

Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood . Wpostwithknot3

Tips & tricks #6 : Making scale knots in wood . Wpostwithknot3

Jenny

Kreighshoer Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:23 am

simple but effective! Shocked

i have never wasted a single thought on knots in timber - now i ask myself why i haven't!

Panzer Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:10 pm

Nice Tip.
Panzer

JSteinman Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:01 pm

Looks fab, I bet you could do this with styrene too!

**Jenny Ryan** Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:53 pm

JSteinman wrote:Looks fab, I bet you could do this with styrene too!

I guess you could , the advantage I have found is that when you age the wood with stains , the knot absorbs the ageing stain quicker , thus darkening & making it even more prominent .

Jenny flower

Shaggy Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:42 am

Like Laura said, I never would've thought of that, yet it is so simple. I'll definately use this tip, whether it's for bridges, fences, wooden buildings.

JENNY, YOU ROCK cheers