Looking for feedback and techniques for filling small checks in some crotch walnut. In the past, I have used an epoxy mixed with a dark color and had acceptable results. I wondered what some others use for these problems.
To get an idea of how dark it will get, I put some moisture on the wood surface to see the colors. Using a color card(brown to real dark brown) I try to gage the shade as best as possible. Its a bit simple so I wondered if there were some other options.
Photos: different shots of the piece of walnut for a desk fold down lid with breadboards. You will see some other shots with cracks needing attention. Some of the shots are just the progress(slow) of making a board flat and waiting for the next twist and adapting. No I’m not in a rush… this is my 3rd project like this in the last 2 years. Maybe I should go back to chairs?
Replies
The sort of standard way to fill crotch cracks is to cover small wedges of scrap from the same board with hide glue and then hammer them into the crack. The end grain of the wedge should match the crotch's color since most crotches are really end grain anyway, the difference is negligible. Try it out in an unobtrusive spot. Use hide glue because most of the yellow glues soak into the grain and leave an unsightly light mark.
I like that idea. I'm toying with that very idea for the last couple days-- just a undecided. I'm thinking I can lay some dark color on the end grain if the area around it really blackens up from the moisture. I think this will look better than the epoxy technique.
to fill crotch cracks is to cover small wedges of scrap from the same board with hide glue and then hammer them into the crack.. Right on...
But be sure to make the 'wedges' of face grain and not end grain! Depending on how big the crack is.. Shellac and sawdust from the same wood works for me as a wood filler.
Actually, on crotches, you WANT the end grain to show. The figure in crotches is largely end grain to begin with, so you need the end grain to show. Glue and sawdust looks exactly like what it is... wood and glue. Endgrain from the wedges is almost imperceptible and can even be used on very large cracks. Wood filler really has few of the characteristics of the surrounding wood.
you WANT the end grain to show..
OK so I am just a almost fine woodworker... (>;
I got the end grain in the right direction. I'm trying some samples and it looks good so far.
The hide glue is easy. I have been using hot hide for years and now I am using Patrick Edwards hide glue from the bottle. Place the plastic bottle in a warm water bath for 5 minutes and you have a long working glue that seems to match the stuff from my pot. I am very happy with this stuff and recommend it to anyone building chairs or working joints that might need to be repaired down the road.
Using a glue that reactivates itself in a mortise when you apply new glue as opposed to one that you have to clean out because it doesn't stick to itself is a bonus I really like. Enough on hide glue.
dan
I have used PL Premium to fill small holes . It is light in color like the late wood just under the bark . It would not look so good in your crotch wood but it works for streaks and small cracks.
First, a Beavis and Butthead impression: "Heh heh heh ... he said "crotch and cracks" ... heh heh heh ... heh heh heh.
Second, the standard retort: Those boards are no good; you should send 'em to me for proper disposal.
Third, useful information or suggestion ....
I, uh, got nothing ...
but I anxiously await others.
Beautiful wood.
I have not done this, but in case you dont follow Furniture and Cabinet magazine (UK) has featured both Nak.. and the making of Nak.. pieces recently. The articles got me to thinking about trying this. Let us know how the project proceeds.
Brad
Looks like those cracks may be a bit wide for this method, but I've put Titebond in the cracks and then sanded over it. The sawdust adheres to the glue.
Nice piece of walnut!
dan,
the grain patterns in that walnut are beautiful. i very much enjoy working with crotch walnut and a board the size you're working is very exciting. one method for filling those cracks is to, sort of accentuate them. one adds colored powder to clear epoxy, fills the cracks and sands to smooth and flat.
eef
I am working on a project where the owner gave me some of their own rough stock to use for the mantle. It is to be painted, but I wanted to fill some of the splits/cracks to stabilize it before the paint. I tried fiberglass resin and am quite impressed how easy it is to use to fill deeper cracks. Cheap, dries to about the same color as expoxy, but the downside is the smell, yikes. I am not sure yet, but I think I could tint it to match diff woods.
Just a thought. Sometimes I have good ones, sometimes...umm, not so good.
Brad
I keep sanding dust from several species in order to have a variety of colors. I fill the cracks with a mixture of glue and sanding dust. In the attached med cabinet featuring a walnut crotch panel the filled cracks are difficult to find.
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