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 Post subject: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:55 am 
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I made a walnut bench for my SIL. I always use air dried lumber which I've found over the years is more stable than kiln dried. I believe this batch came from John Boy. I love placing knots and other defects as visual treats throughout the project. In this case both arms had knots in the center of the arm rest.

Image

I also used a flitch for the seat.

Image

Anyway, after finishing it (Rude 'n Crude) the bench sat in my house for nearly a year before my SIL came to get it and take it back to Denver.

After being in Denver for nearly a year, both arms developed cracks through the center of the knots. So far, the seat has not cracked.

I've made several of these benches and none have split. They are all east of the Mississippi too.

Is the altitude and dryness that much different out west? Is there anything different I could have done to keep the knots from splitting?

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 8:51 am 
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kylerk wrote:
I made a walnut bench for my SIL. I always use air dried lumber which I've found over the years is more stable than kiln dried. I believe this batch came from John Boy. I love placing knots and other defects as visual treats throughout the project. In this case both arms had knots in the center of the arm rest.

Image

I also used a flitch for the seat.

Image

Anyway, after finishing it (Rude 'n Crude) the bench sat in my house for nearly a year before my SIL came to get it and take it back to Denver.

After being in Denver for nearly a year, both arms developed cracks through the center of the knots. So far, the seat has not cracked.

I've made several of these benches and none have split. They are all east of the Mississippi too.

Is the altitude and dryness that much different out west? Is there anything different I could have done to keep the knots from splitting?


Probably knot much you could have done to prevent it. If she can find a decent woodworker there, it's knot hard to repair tho. :wink:

There's even some DIY videos on youtube about it.

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:16 am 
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Gene wrote:
Probably knot much you could have done to prevent it. If she can find a decent woodworker there, it's knot hard to repair tho. :wink:

There's even some DIY videos on youtube about it.


Groan ... knot funny! :razz:

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 3:25 pm 
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kylerk wrote:
Gene wrote:
Probably knot much you could have done to prevent it. If she can find a decent woodworker there, it's knot hard to repair tho. :wink:

There's even some DIY videos on youtube about it.


Groan ... knot funny! :razz:


I just couldn't resist. It was too easy. :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 8:42 pm 
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That's the problem with the internet.........too many crackpots!

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 6:09 am 
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No surprises to a student of wood. As the knot contracted and sought equilibrium with a high and dry Denver, with maybe help from air conditioning or heating, the outside rings tried to pull inward, but were resisted by surrounding wood and its inner self. In a log, radial checks would result from the same process.


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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 8:36 am 
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reelinron wrote:
That's the problem with the internet.........too many crackpots!


Did you hear about the knothead comedian? He was always cracking himself up. :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 10:54 am 
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you guys crack me up

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 7:23 am 
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stop it my side is splitting!

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Thu Jan 14, 2016 11:49 pm 
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kylerk wrote:

Is the altitude and dryness that much different out west? Is there anything different I could have done to keep the knots from splitting?


In Albq I've seen relative humidity (RH) in the single digits in the summer. RH in the teens to mid-twenties is the norm. I think that's different from Mississippi :-)

About the only thing you could have done to keep the knots from splitting is not give the chair to someone who lives in Denver.


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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2016 8:25 am 
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drstrip wrote:
About the only thing you could have done to keep the knots from splitting is not give the chair to someone who lives in Denver.


thanks and btw, that was my wife's answer. She had grown fond of it and if it hadn't gone to her sister it would still be in the house :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Wed Jan 20, 2016 10:10 pm 
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That was Why I posted in Tom's post once. how to account for seasonal changes. I am not bragging. but we do go from 85-90 HUMID as a high to 65 as a low.

how so you deal with 80 to 55? in a home

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 12:59 am 
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Hey Ken,

Given that the shrinking of the knots leads to their eventually splitting, my usual technique is to fill the splits with crushed turquoise and epoxy. I think it's often best to celebrate the defects rather than to hide them, and it's certainly easier. You could do the same, if you should ever get the chair back. :wink:

Cheers,
Tom

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 Post subject: Re: Wood splitting
PostPosted: Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:59 pm 
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tms wrote:
Hey Ken,

Given that the shrinking of the knots leads to their eventually splitting, my usual technique is to fill the splits with crushed turquoise and epoxy. I think it's often best to celebrate the defects rather than to hide them, and it's certainly easier. You could do the same, if you should ever get the chair back. :wink:


that is a good idea. I usually fill them with clear epoxy which gives an interesting look. I'll have to try the crushed turquoise and epoxy next time.

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