Using Natural Wood Rounds

[Grayfax]

My brother was cutting up cedar limbs to use for a project for his wife.  I figured I might as well grab a few just in case I might could turn them into bases or platforms for miniatures.  I have several sizes and several heights, but when I started looking I was not finding much on integrating something like this into a base.  Lots of things for already prepared woods, but not many ideas on fresher wood.  Now, most of these limbs were dropped from trees, so, not exactly full of sap:

I am thinking I would need sealer but wasn't sure how that would interact when trying to get a miniature to adhere, or should I strictly use the taller ones as a plinth of some kind that the completed miniature sits on?

Thoughts? Ideas? Practical experience?

Also need to find the best way to handle the bark (leave it, clear it, etc.).

[Clearman]

The first thing I thought was that I would have liked it cut into cubes. 

 

There is really nice grain.  If it is dry and free from sap, you might try just an application of tung oil.  But you shouldn't have issues gluing to any sealer. 

[Glitterwolf]

This is the kinda thing I'm looking for.

I have bought stuff like this before.

 

If it is a fresh one, let it dry so the saps will be gone.

You said it doesn't contain much so that's great.

 

I bought something like that in a garden centre and I covered it in dash clay before building the diorama on it.

 

http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/65337-halloween-pumpkin-house-and-witches-project-by-glitterwolf/&

 

Another wooden disc ( not even a tree round) I primed before building.

 

http://forum.reapermini.com/index.php?/topic/73384-the-elder-god-escapes-his-container-by-glitterwolf/

 

[Chaoswolf]

I would leave the bark, personally.

[Glitterwolf]

55 minutes ago, Chaoswolf said:

I would leave the bark, personally.

 

Oh yeah for sure!

I would use a little varnish or sealer though to protect it.

[Grayfax]

Cool.  Thanks guys.  I have enough I can experiment with, so once the Tung Oil arrives, I'll see how it all goes together and if I can retain enough of the bark to feel like it does currently (minus the fly-aways).

 

[Zink]

I did a diorama out of a small piece like this for my wife's birthday this year. It was dried poplar. I wanted to save the rough bark on the edges but most of it came off when I sawed it. Can't really give much advice. All I did was paint it with thick craft paints as a base coat and then painted or flocked on top of that.

[Sergeant_Crunch]

Minwax has an acrylic sealer.  I use it with some regularity on wooden items I engrave.

[Zink]

Took a couple pics of what I did. The river was made with a router, some of the bits were bought at Michaels and the rest were just rocks and twigs from around the farm and a little flock and moss from my terrain supplies. I didn't seal the wood before painting but did use a spray varnish after. I'd probably want to use a sealer like Sergeant_Crunch if I was to make another one.