What can I make with driftwood?

Asked by: Sandra Bailey

Driftwood can be used to make furniture and lamps – you may DIY such pieces or buy ready ones. Driftwood can become a base for your dining, coffee or console table, it can be used to build a shelving unit, some racks, clothes and jewelry holders and hangers and even benches, sofas and chairs.

How do you use driftwood in crafts?

On or you can glue a hook right to the back of the cardboard. And there you have it a wonderful wall hanging piece and you can do any shape. So you could create things like a lighthouse or a dolphin.

How do you preserve driftwood for outdoor use?

Mix a concentrated insecticide with water in a spray bottle, and cover the driftwood with the spray mixture while outdoors. Set it in the sun and let small pieces dry three to five days, while allowing larger branches up to 15 days to dry.

Do you need to treat driftwood?

If you’re using your driftwood for an aquarium, you will need to use a natural process to clean driftwood without any chemicals. If your pieces are small enough, you can boil them but you may split and crack the wood.

How do you preserve driftwood at home?

Submerge the driftwood in a solution of bleach and water.



If you want to preserve the original color and grain, use 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach for every 5 gallons (19 L) of water instead. Fill the bin with enough of your bleach solution to completely submerge the driftwood.

Should I stain driftwood?

Finish the driftwood using either a drying oil finish, such as tung oil, or a driftwood-colored wood stain, advises Wood Central. Apply the finish with a paint brush, using smooth strokes. This will deepen the driftwood’s natural color without substantially altering it.

How long does driftwood last?

Wood is organic and that means it will break down over time. How quickly it breaks down will depend on a number of factors, but on average, most driftwood will begin to show signs of deterioration as early as 2 years after being submerged and may need replacing after roughly 5 years.

How do you clean driftwood for crafting?

In a bucket of water or tub, wash your driftwood in a soaking solution of water and Super Washing Soda. Follow the solution instructions on the container (typically 1 cup per gallon). Let soak for 12-24 hours. This step will further remove colour (i.e. tannins) still hanging onto that driftwood.

How do you keep driftwood from Cracking?

To prevent the driftwood from further cracking, you can let it air dry slowly. Spring is a suitable time for this task since the mildish air and damp rainy days can provide a good environment for the wood. It is better to keep the wood under a cover so that the sunlight doesn’t completely dry it out.

How do you get rid of bugs in driftwood?

If you want to be sure there are no insects in the wood, seal it in a plastic bag and leave it for a few days to kill off any bugs. Alternatively, submerge the driftwood in a tub of distilled water for up to 2 weeks to allow the tannins and dirt to leach out of the wood.

What does baking soda do to driftwood?

Add 3 or 4 teaspoons of baking soda to the water in the container. This raises the pH of the water in the container. The alkaline water draws out the tannins in the wood.

Do I need to boil driftwood?

Boiling Driftwood



More importantly, boiling sterilizes the driftwood, killing algal or fungal spores that can take hold once introduced into the aquarium with the driftwood. Boiling the driftwood for 1-2 hours will sterilize the driftwood.