Alternative bowl repair.

[artful bodger]

Noticed a hairline crack in one of my previously rough turned blackwood bowl blanks. The crack was pretty close to vertical on the rim and went down approx 35mm. It was a nice sized blank about 420mm dia and 125mm deep.
It seems dovetail/bow tie repairs are an acceptable fix to some however they stick out like dogs britches visually.
460137 As in the case of this bowl in King Billy pine.
Decided to try another way this time with the blackwood bowl.
First trued up the outside shape and the rim so the bowl would sit flat on the foot and a straight edge could be clamped to the rim.
460138 Then cut the crack out using a circular saw against the straight edge.
460139 Glued in a suitable piece of blackwood using Kleiberit.303 glue which dries clear and gives a much less noticeable glue line than epoxy glue.
Then went ahead and turned the bowl as normal.
Pretty happy with the result. Not easy to spot the repair from a distance.

460140
A couple of close ups, one from inside and one from outside.
460141 460142
Less time consuming than fitting dovetails too.

[Ian Artlett]

great save ,,thank you going to try that on a huon pine platter that cracked

[NeilS]

Nice job, AB.

I have sometimes done something a bit similar for decorative purposes, but not as a crack repair.


460264

Here is another style of crack repair that I have used a bit.


460262

It is quick and easy. Functionally it stabilises the crack. But, as you can see, I don't try to disguise the 'mend' and, if anything, pick a contrasting wood colour to make it a feature for which I bump up the price. They always sell, so must be getting something right.

And, another variation using the round peg technique...


460263

[Dalboy]

Like Neil I use contrasting woods to repair a natural fault and find the sell better.


460269

[Nubsnstubs]

I've been thinking about doing crack stabilization that way for a couple years now. Just haven't done it yet.

I have been drilling across the cracks and inserting dowels that I make to bridge the cracks. If done right, they can be attractive and pretty much secure the cracks from splitting more. . .............. Jerry (in Tucson)USA

[NeilS]

I have been drilling across the cracks and inserting dowels that I make to bridge the cracks. If done right, they can be attractive and pretty much secure the cracks from splitting more. . .............. Jerry (in Tucson) USA

Jerry, I find that technique you have been using also produces some nice long oval decorative shapes...


460278

But, surprisingly, as long as a piece is stabilised (particularly on the rim of bowls), you don't have to disguise its cracks for it to sell (yes it sold and for a good price)....


460280

[artful bodger]

But, as you can see, I don't try to disguise the 'mend' and, if anything, pick a contrasting wood colour to make it a feature for which I bump up the price. They always sell, so must be getting something right. (NeilS)

Like Neil I use contrasting woods to repair a natural fault and find the sell better. (Dalboy)

You guys have it good!. Galleries in this neck of the woods are really reluctant to take bowls that have had any repair done to them. Not sure why that is, perhaps it is because in the past we have been spoiled with so many quality timbers. Times have changed in the "timber availability department". Trees are still there but no one is allowed to cut em down anymore. Perhaps it is time to work on the galleries to change a bit in this regard?.

For interests sake here is a picture of a bowl repair (from a long time ago) similar to the dowel method shown above. (Back left bowl) Resonably large bowl, Used to get rid of rot more than cracks.
460407

[NeilS]

You guys have it good!.



A good thing to be reminded of that.

I have at least two groups of buyers. One lot are the passing through tourists who want something more than the run of the mill souvenir for whom a crack (mended or not) would be unacceptable. The other group are the regulars who have come back over the decades and they will buy if they particularly like a new piece. That group is where the more challenging pieces go. A subgroup of those are buying gifts for others and what they select will depend to some extent on what they think will be appreciated by the recipient. I have one buyer who travels overseas a lot and regularly buys my pieces to give to her hosts. That is an invaluable customer!




Times have changed in the "timber availability department".



River red gum used to be relatively plentiful here in SA. Since running out of mallee roots to burn, RRG was used until that also ran out locally and now has to be brought in by the firewood suppliers from the eastern states. With only dead trees on private properties being legally available, and with those also becoming scarce, it has all become very expensive. So, getting a large piece of RRG suitable for turning is a rare event. Even old fence posts are at a premium. Once galleries were a sea of RRG pieces, now gallery owners are asking for them. My forty year old stash of RRG has become an asset...:)

[wood spirit]

Personally I don't mind an honest repair (otherwise the blank woud be scrapped or shrunk down till the fault was gone) However cusomers are not me. have had customers love cracks in bowls before -because the whole cross section of the wood was there (and they understood what happens) At a glance I can't actualy pick out your repair -well done. Only advice is hide it VERY well or be honest with what it is. Honesty has its customers -but they will buy if well hidden too.