Can I Save this?

[Graham_C]

I started turning this 8" x 2.5" oak blank today and spotted this crack

It goes all the way through - can it be saved? And if so, how?

Thanks in advance

 

[Dalboy]

How far round to the chuck does it go. If there is plenty of good wood then you could give it a good squirt if thin CA untill it has soaked right in do this before you go to far and as you turn it keep an eye on it adding more CA as you go

 

[Phil Dart]

Lets see the piece as a whole Graham. The method used to save it may well be dictated by the appearance of the piece that you are trying to achieve. A rustic form look better one way, a pristine formal piece might look better another.

Zoom out a bit, and tell us what you're trying to achieve.

 

[Vic Perrin]

I have used Brass or Copper powder drizzled with thin CA to overcome this issue and it has made a nice feature

 

[GeordieB]

I have used both Vic and Derek,s methods if the crack is quite thin I would opt for Derek,s wider Vic's

 

[Penpal]

Unless its a precious piece of timber you could cut your losses and select another piece to work on. The amount of uncertainty and future movement of this one needs to be weighed up ans balanced against a top result.This is a definite crack.

Peter.

 

[Graham_C]

Thanks for the quick responses guys, I'll take another pic or two tomorrow and try to show/explain the extent of the crack. It is quite open, and my first thought was "can I make a feature of it?" Maybe I can - I quite fancy the idea of copper in-fill

The wood isn't precious, but I hate to waste it!

It's going to be a small bowl or similar - a 30th birthday gift for my daughter-in-law. Again, any ideas would be appreciated

 

[Terry Q]

I agree with Peter. Life's to short to turn crappy wood. Besides the potential for an "explosion" on the lathe doesn't appeal to me. Think safety.

 

[Graham_C]

I agree with Peter. Life's to short to turn crappy wood. Besides the potential for an "explosion" on the lathe doesn't appeal to me. Think safety.

Thanks Terry, safety was my first concern - I don't fancy a chunk flying off

 

[Graham_C]

So, I cleaned it up a bit took a closer look....

It's pretty bad I think, especially as it will go through the thinner part of the bowl.

 

[Phil Dart]

I think you are better to go down the "abandon it" route Graham. The wood is almost in two pieces. The shake goes almost the entire length of the grain at the front and almost to the centre point, much lower down at the back. No amount of CA is going to keep that safe. There are methods of dealing with it - boring, pinning, stapling and so on, and if it was a priceless piece of irreplaceable burr I might be encouraging you to learn some new saving skills. But it isn't - it's a piece of run of the mill oak, and in this instance the need to keep your head and face intact outweighs the time involved and the risks associated with saving it.

In my opinion you would be better to get it off the lathe, get it on the bandsaw and re-purpose it I'm afraid

 

[Dalboy]

Having now seen the second batch of picture use it for something else take it straight off and bandsaw it straight through the split so you can see what you have left. i had a bowl like this when I first started and so not to waste it I cut out the split and glued in a contrasting piece. This was one of my first turnings when I started which had a split through the middle

 

[Graham_C]

Took a really close "look" by applying pressure, and it moves considerably, so I'll "re-purpose" as suggested. Many thanks for all the responses

 

[clement]

I agree with Phil's advice, take it off from the lathe and try use the best part for something others !

 

[Winemaker]

Best cut it in half taking the crack out and put a different wood in the middle as Dalboy has said

 

[Graham_C]

Blank is currently resting, awaiting the attentions of the saw

 

[wm460]

I have used Brass powder mixed with epoxy to save bowl etc.
Very nice save Derek.

 

[Graham_C]

So, a few options - something to ponder on

 

[hawkeyefxr]

I have used Brass or Copper powder drizzled with thin CA to overcome this issue and it has made a nice feature

I like this idea, where do you get the powder?

 

[Graham_C]

I like this idea, where do you get the powder?

I recently bought some from eBay