Save apple wood

[Arkeon]

So my apple tree in by back yard is finally calling it quits after being there for over 30 years. So I was curious since the trunk is rotten could I salvage the branches/roots to make it into drift wood for my tank?

 

[Wailua Boy]

If you can find some unrotten sections, should be fine.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Yes.Dead apple wood is perfectly safe.
I have used it many times without issue.

 

[Arkeon]

What would I have to do to prepare it for use in my tank? I know I have to remove the bark.

 

[Hendre]

Remove bark, and boil it. If not put in brine

HarleyK

 

[Arkeon]

How long does the brine bath take, and how much salt? I have a 55 gal drum I can use to do it in, since what I am going to keep will be to big to boil. Hoping to keep some branches that are close to 5 feet long

 

[Drstrangelove]

Brine is water over 50 ppt, so you will need roughly 2/3 cup of salt per gallon to reach a "brine" level.

 

[Arkeon]

Brine is water over 50 ppt, so you will need roughly 2/3 cup of salt per gallon to reach a "brine" level.

So leaving it in the brine solution for over a week or two should be long enough?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I never bother with salt or boiling on any wood I have collected and used.
I've used oak,hawthorn, beech and apple.
You need to make sure the branches are completely dead and free from any sap or green wood.
I normally just give them a good scrub and poor boiling water from the kettle over them.
Pretty soaking will help to remove some of the tannins but the tannins can take a very long time to stop.
I've been doing this for years and never had any issues.

 

[Arkeon]

I never bother with salt or boiling on any wood I have collected and used.
I've used oak,hawthorn, beech and apple.
You need to make sure the branches are completely dead and free from any sap or green wood.
I normally just give them a good scrub and poor boiling water from the kettle over them.
Pretty soaking will help to remove some of the tannins but the tannins can take a very long time to stop.
I've been doing this for years and never had any issues.

The branches are still going to be green, the half of the tree that is left is still growing even though it's rotten trunk. The bark and a few layers are still holding it together and my family wants the past apples from the tree before I can officially cut it apart.

How do you know when all the sap is out of the wood?