I see a lot of outdoor wood upcycle projects, and I finally decided to tackle one of my many garden art ideas. I did one of the upcycle dragonflies which uses a spindle, but despite prepping and using primers and sealers it still swelled and flaked. Anyone with tips on preventing this problem or is this just the nature of the beast?
Thanks.

No advice but hoping someone stops in with ideas for you

I was hoping that Blanche got an answer to her problem with paint flaking on wood outdoors. I am also having that same problem and was hoping to learn how to keep it from happening.

I just googled this problem and there were so many answers I could pick on to link. You may want to try google and see if you find something that will work

I just happened to see this thread so I thought that I would pass on what I know. If the wood @ the heart of the piece, either green wood or wood that is not absolutely 110% bone dry, when you seal it and paint it, any trapped moisture in that wood is going to keep on trying to escape.
The rate at which that happens is driven by temperature extremes. If you place the object in the sun and it gets warmed by the sun, that speeds up that inner moistures attempt to escape.
Now please keep it in mind that I am no expert on wood but I have done my fair share when it comes to wooden yard art. Primarily bird houses or benches. If that original wood is not 110% in the beginning, this can happen. I have dealt with this time and time again.
Good luck though but I don't think that you can stop it 100%!

Everything I read on google said the same thing that Bill just posted.

For example, we had a deck with knotty pine roof put on in May and we're not allowed to stain it until August so it will be dry enough.

Well, I am happy to see correct information on google for once.

I was fortunate enough to have a Grandpa who taught me a great deal about wood. He was a poorly educated, German immigrant who, my goodness, new all about wood!! He drove a delivery truck as a 14 yr. old in the mid 1920's in order to help his parents make ends meet.

Thank you Bill and Vicki. I will keep this in mind when I go to paint another wood piece for the garden.

Your very welcome.

I just wanted to pop on and say thanks for the helpful tips. In my case there was a crack between the body and head of my dragonfly where rain water could collect, causing the head to swell and the crack to deepen. I took it apart and attempted to repair it, but even after sealing it with oil based paints it happened again. It's some kind of fault in the head. The body is fine. I'm going to leave it up this year and just let it go naturally, next year I'll take him down and give him a new head. I've just made my nan a butterfly so I'm hopeful this isn't a continuing problem! I used a different wooden sphere for hers, so fingers crossed no more splits. 🤞