Collecting Wild Driftwood...

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Steveo McNello

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2010
2,009
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SW Burbs of Chicago
Do's? Dont's? What to look for? Does tree species matter?

I want to find a huge piece for my pond aaaaaand not spend half my check on something mother nature gives us.
 
Really hard wood is the best look for something on the shore of a lake or pond. I found a nice piece on the shore of Lake Superior. If it has not been in water you will have to soak it longer to get it to sink.
 
MN Fish said:
Really hard wood is the best look for something on the shore of a lake or pond. I found a nice piece on the shore of Lake Superior. If it has not been in water you will have to soak it longer to get it to sink.
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It just sucks cause I don't have too many non man made bodies of water around me. I want one thats been aged right? So no toxins or tannins from it?
 
I don't know much about it except for I find this stuff all the time. We have a cabin on the Mississippi river and I find this stuff a lot. I was also wondering weather it was something that could be used in my tank.

If/when you find a piece of wood what do you plan on doing with it? Would you still soak it for a while even if it came from the water?
 
NormDawg said:
I don't know much about it except for I find this stuff all the time. We have a cabin on the Mississippi river and I find this stuff a lot. I was also wondering weather it was something that could be used in my tank.

If/when you find a piece of wood what do you plan on doing with it? Would you still soak it for a while even if it came from the water?
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I'd probably just power wash it.
 
I would be worried about possible parasites and other hitch-hikers that might come from wild collected driftwood...might be an idea to think of ways to clean it? such as boiling it, or baking it in the oven just to make sure you kill any nasties off before putting it in your pond?
 
Fat Homer said:
I would be worried about possible parasites and other hitch-hikers that might come from wild collected driftwood...might be an idea to think of ways to clean it? such as boiling it, or baking it in the oven just to make sure you kill any nasties off before putting it in your pond?
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Well the size im looking for is too big for the oven.
 
If you cant bake or boil it..or soak it in really hot water for a week or so than i would go the dry it out rout

power wash it and set it some where it can dry..100% dry this will make it float but it will also kill off any potential hitchhikers, You will have to hold it down with something until it gets water logged again.
 
Kaosu said:
If you cant bake or boil it..or soak it in really hot water for a week or so than i would go the dry it out rout

power wash it and set it some where it can dry..100% dry this will make it float but it will also kill off any potential hitchhikers, You will have to hold it down with something until it gets water logged again.
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I don't mind doing that. So what am I looking for then? A piece that's submerged upon finding or a dead one on shore? Pretty much all of the ones underwater are black and nasty
 
anything you like..if its near the water and has been in it...or out i guess I have done both

look for anything that is solid...try to push your finger nail in to the wood..if it pushes in it is rotting..no good...nothing flaky ..bark can be removed so no worries there...basically anything that you cant scape chunks off of with your finger nail or push your nail in to should be fine.

the heavier wood the better from what i have found in my collecting ^_^
 
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