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Repair small crack in raised panel, or not?

dankolesar's picture

Repair small crack in raised panel, or not? (post #169494)

dankolesar on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 15:30 (updated 12/21/11 - 12:02) 
in

I'm making a cradle from walnut.  The two ends of the cradle have raised panels.  When routing the profile, I created a small crack in one of the panels (I heard it when it happened - FRUSTRATING!) near the upper lefthand corner.  The crack is pretty small and can only be seen from one side (the front), but should I try and repair it?  If so, how?  (I think there's only one possible way, but I'm open for advice)  What will it look like in 100 years if I don't repair it?

3 pictures are attached - one showing the panel, one showing the crack, and one where I'm applying slight pressure to open the crack.

Experts, please help...  Thanks.

-A +A
BruceS's picture

CA (post #169494, reply #1 of 10)

by BruceS in reply to dankolesar [original] on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 15:44

I would guess that you do not plan on staining the walnut.    My fix would be to get some of the thin "HOT"  CA glue and add a drop at a time to seal and fill the almost invisable crack and then sand lightly and let the dust act as the final filler.   You will probably need a magnifying glass to see the repair.

After 100 years it will just look old ;-)

Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

Bruce S. 

 

roc's picture

Bruce, (post #169494, reply #2 of 10)

by roc in reply to BruceS [original] on Wed, 12/21/2011 - 20:40

Would you call that 

is it a

shake ?

Or is it just a crack that the OP caused ?

I am thinking it was in the wood ( a shake ) and it just showed up more with handling.

I had that happen to me when I made my big monster wooden finish plane.  It is prety easy to see in this photo.

Dankolesar,

That is a nice looking panel !

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

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BruceS's picture

Shake or check ? (post #169494, reply #5 of 10)

by BruceS in reply to roc [original] on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:38

Not wind shake,  they follow the annular rings.   Could be Heart shake or felling shake,  maybe a drying check.

I  doubt it was originally caused by the OP.   I think it just opened up more when it was milled.

Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

Bruce S. 

 

roc's picture

Looks like it is going tobe after Xmas or next year for my plane (post #169494, reply #7 of 10)

by roc in reply to BruceS [original] on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 22:48

>Wind shake, Heart shake , felling shake,  drying check.<

That is one reason why I ordered a wooden finish plane from Old Street Tool (Larry Williams etc).

Finding thick stock to make a hand plane seems to be fraught with risk of less than excellent stock.

He knows how to select the good stock.  Besides knowing how to make the plane once he gets the stuff.

dankolesar,

Looking forward to seeing the cradle completed !  Please post photos.

 

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

RalphBarker's picture

cracks (post #169494, reply #3 of 10)

by RalphBarker in reply to dankolesar [original] on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 09:49

Although it is hard to say for sure, my guess would be that there were internal stresses in the board which were allowed to split when the panel was raised. The real question is how far the crack will want to extend over time. Absent cutting a new panel, the CA glue suggestion strikes me as a reasonable approach.

dankolesar's picture

Gentlemen, Thanks for your (post #169494, reply #4 of 10)

by dankolesar in reply to dankolesar [original] on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 14:21

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your responses.  I ordered some thin CA glue and will give your suggestion a try.  The perfectionist in me was tempted to cut a new panel, but since this is a gift for my wife's friend and walnut is $7+/bf here in AK, frugality triumphs over perfectionism this time.

Dan

BruceS's picture

CA hot stuff (post #169494, reply #6 of 10)

by BruceS in reply to dankolesar [original] on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:49

Be extremely carefull with the Thin hot stuff CA glue !!!!!   It is nearly instant with skin ( how would I know that?)

I hope you ordered the solvent too.  Another warning,   the thin CA hot stuff is water thin so make an extremely small hole in the glue bottle tip ( fine sewing needle)  you don't want to flood the area.

Do a practice run on scrap first.
 

Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

Bruce S. 

 

dankolesar's picture

Thanks for the pointers.  I (post #169494, reply #8 of 10)

by dankolesar in reply to dankolesar [original] on Sun, 12/25/2011 - 19:03

Thanks for the pointers.  I didn't order the solvent.  Is that just in case I glue my hand to my bench, or do you think it will be necessary for the repair?  I was planning on just dripping it in, then sanding over top.  Good idea on the pinhole.  I wonder if a syringe would work as an alternative applicator...

 

Dan

BruceS's picture

Solvent (post #169494, reply #9 of 10)

by BruceS in reply to dankolesar [original] on Sun, 12/25/2011 - 20:36

"Emergency use"  Trust me on getting some unless you want to go around a few days making a semi perment OK sign.

Skip the syringe,  pin hole is fine.

Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

Bruce S. 

 

RalphBarker's picture

one more pointer (post #169494, reply #10 of 10)

by RalphBarker in reply to dankolesar [original] on Mon, 12/26/2011 - 09:19

Don't lick the tip of the glue applicator.  ;-)