Which method to stabilize a crack

[Danford C Jennings]

Kerry,

The only way I know of "stabalizing" a crack is to drill a hole where it ends and use a filler. This will, however, not quarantee a permanant fix...

Dano

[arcticfox46]

Dano,

Does it matter if it is a "natural" crack vs a crack from drying which would continue to grow? Though I am not sure what a natural crack is, but I would beleive it would not continue as a split would.

[Cody Colston]

You better hope Sonny doesn't see this post. :o

Cody
Tyler, TX

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[dale armbruster]

Kerry,

I have done this many times so it will work.

I use what they call thick-gap filler CA glue. CA is a concentrated super glue. I buy it from Woodcraft. Looked for it once at Home Depot and they didn't have it.

The glue needs to be applied several times as it will seep into the crack and settle. Takes about 24 hrs. or so for each application to dry. You can do all this after the project is assembled if you want. Then sand with the rest of the piece. Treat the piece with BLO, stain, varnish, whatever afterwards-it doesn't mater.

You can likely do the same thing with a 2 ton epoxy from HD also.

Works like a charm.

Seeing the pic, that's not a crack-that's a beautifull bark inclusion. Lots of character.

Use the method described above and you'll have no problem. The epoxy will work well.

Hmmmm, how to fill a crack near the crotch? Funny ? coming from a Doc.

Dale

[dcarter636]

Looking at the picture and recalling that you said this is a pretty thick slab...

I would be inclined to use a couple long 5/16" or 3/8" lag bolts to snug things up a little bit after applying epoxy into the gap. The lag bolt heads could be sunk and plugs installed to hide the screw heads. Because the adhesive will largely be bonding to bark I don't you can count on the adhesive alone to hold things in stasis.

I've never filled a tree crotch before but that is what I would do.

[dcarter636]

Oh yeah, now that we know it's crack in a crotch.

[ictoos]

They had a contest a while back for the best ring tone/song for an Ob/Gyn

Runner up was "Whats new Pussycat"

The winner was "Men at work- the land down under"

[TDHofstetter]

What a crotch shot! Lotsa' wisecracks about it, too... :D :D :D

If it was mine - and that size - I think I'd fill it with epoxy & let it be there in contrast with the rest of the piece.

-- Tim --

The more aware we become,
The better we realize
That each of us is,
On the whole,
Right smack in the middle
Of "average".

[dale armbruster]

What Tim said, all your doing is filling a void. This is not a stuctural crack, only a void from the tree growing around the bark.

Dale

[Sonny Edmonds]

There is no way to stabilize a crack.
If it's got teats or wheels, sooner or later it's going to give you trouble!
(Hey, I didn't want to disappoint you guys. }> )
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I'd use thin CA glue for it's penitration and just build on it until the crack is filled.
The thin CA will soak deeply into the wood and solidify it.
That's the absolutly best course I know of to date.
And it is how I repair voids in natural woods myself.

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"Lurkimus turdius orifus"

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