to crack or not to crack, that is the question

[Roger Chandler]

A couple of weeks ago, my neighbor and fellow member of our turning club dropped off a cedar log in my yard. He asked me to turn something small for the person who gave us the cedar log [he got part of it as well]

I began a turned box and was intending to top it with a lid, but it cracked almost before my eyes, and I loaded that blank with a lot of CA glue, but it cracked anyway.

Today I went back to the same blank, and turned a bowl from what was left of it, and it did better. Nothing special here, but I found it interesting that cedar cracks if you look at it! The bowl is about 4-7/8" wide and 2-3/4 " tall.

I took a close up of the crack on the box, and I don't know if I will salvage it, or put it in the wood stove.

[Roger Chandler]

for some reason the connection timed out on me before the servers at SMC would finish the upload. So I'll try to get a couple more......

Well, this time it said the connection was reset, and did not take the pics........I will try one more time...well, I got one, I think I will stop there.

[bob svoboda]

Hope you can save it Roger. Pretty wood.

[Dennis Ford]

Cedar is beautiful wood but as you said, it cracks if you look at it. Sometimes it cracks if you don't look at it.

[Baxter Smith]

Beautiful wood. I have only turned Northern White and Atlantic White, both cooperated pretty well but are not nearly as striking!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Both are nice pieces Roger. Hopefully they won't crack. I either use kiln dried or trees that are dead.

[Roger Chandler]

Both are nice pieces Roger. Hopefully they won't crack. I either use kiln dried or trees that are dead.


Bernie,

This cedar log has been on the ground nearly 2 years. From what you and others told me a couple weeks ago, cedar is just so prone to cracking........I think you are probably correct about needing kiln dried in order to keep it from cracking.......

I am still going to get into the DNA soak probably in the spring........that may help a good bit.

[James Combs]

...
I took a close up of the crack on the box, and I don't know if I will salvage it, or put it in the wood stove.


I am still keeping my eye on the little vase and the Bowl/saucer I turned a couple weeks ago... keep your fingers crossed, neither has cracked...yet.

[Cody Colston]

ERC is very prone to cracking but I've also found that heat from sanding causes a lot of it. The better finish off the gouge, the less sanding and the better the chance of avoiding a crack.

[Roger Chandler]

ERC is very prone to cracking but I've also found that heat from sanding causes a lot of it. The better finish off the gouge, the less sanding and the better the chance of avoiding a crack.


Thanks for the tip, Cody!

[Roger Chandler]

I am still keeping my eye on the little vase and the Bowl/saucer I turned a couple weeks ago... keep your fingers crossed, neither has cracked...yet.


James,

sounds like you may get lucky with your cedar......as I remember they were nice........I hope this little bowl does as well as yours, as it goes to the person who gave the wood to my friend and myself.

[Roger Chandler]

I meant to ask this question yesterday, but got distracted trying to get the pics to post.......

On the above cedar bowl I used wipe on poly, and it was high gloss, but the gloss did not come out on the bowl, more of a satin, even dull finish.

Any ideas why? Also, would buffing be in order, and if so, would you use all 3 buffing compounds? :confused::confused::confused:

[Cody Colston]

I use gloss WOP a lot and I've found that the shine doesn't occur until after the third coat has been applied. Don't ask me why, but that's been my experience with it.

I would buff with all three compounds.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I meant to ask this question yesterday, but got distracted trying to get the pics to post.......

On the above cedar bowl I used wipe on poly, and it was high gloss, but the gloss did not come out on the bowl, more of a satin, even dull finish.

Any ideas why? Also, would buffing be in order, and if so, would you use all 3 buffing compounds? :confused::confused::confused:

Roger the oil in the Cedar plays havoc with any oil finish, it trips many up trying to get a nice shiny finish.

A shellac coating after wiping the piece down with a thinner should give you a good base to work from.

[Roger Chandler]

Roger the oil in the Cedar plays havoc with any oil finish, it trips many up trying to get a nice shiny finish.

A shellac coating after wiping the piece down with a thinner should give you a good base to work from.


Well hello Leo! It is nice to see you back on the forum......seems like it has been a while.

Thank you for the tip about the shellac.......never thought of that one. Of course this log is the first time I have ever turned cedar, and I had no experience from which to draw a conclusion of any sort.

I will get some sealer [shellac] and try to wipe it down with thinner, and see what develops.

Looking forward to your next posting ;)