Thread: Repairing split in Timber furniture piece

Any chance you could post a photo? There are a few different ways of repairing a split but it would be easier to make a suggestion if people could see the problem. Not sure what you mean by 'side ledge'.

yes I tried but not familiar with this particular system
Will try to expalin the ledge....
Imagine the seat on a chiar being the ledge, well the split runs along there.
Not the full width, just a couple mm deep.

Sorry my explanation not too good

OK so is it one of the shelves that the books sit on? Is it visible normally?

Here's one way to fix a split that will also help prevent it getting worse:

Butterfly Inlay - Woodworking Techniques - American Woodworker

It's called a butterfly or dutchman. You can make them look very pretty with a bit of work but if it's not visible, like on the underside of the shelf, it can be rough as long as it fits tightly.

You might have to address the cause of the split though, or else you'll probably get more over time. So you may need to move the cabinet, or put up a blind or something to protect it from the sun, if that's what is causing it to split.

No not ledge where book sits, but ledge like where you could actually sit on it...like a chair seat.
The split is tiny...from the end of the timberalong for about an inch BUT the split is only paper then. I was thinking it really only needs something to expand the timber a wee bit.

OK, yep got what you mean. Does the ledge have exposed end grain, or is it enclosed some how? ie can you see the edge of the board that is splitting?

I think I get what you mean by 'expand the timber' - I guess you are thinking you could close the gap if the timber would swell up?

The problem with timber is that, because it is a natural material, it takes on or loses moisture from the surrounding air, so if it's hot and dry it shrinks, which is probably what is happening in your case. You'd probably find that if you moved the bookcase somewhere out of the sun it might even close up by itself.

If that's not an option, you're probably going to be fighting a losing battle because as soon as you stop one split, another will form next to it.

What is the bookcase finished with? Is it a hard finish like varnish, or has it been oiled? Someone might be able to suggest something that you could use to protect it a bit better if it's been oiled.

The split comes right from the end/exposed grain.
We have moved it a while back & so wanted to see if we could repair it with some sort of moisturising/oil?????????
Not sure what it is finished with......something very light both in coulour & density as it is very natural looking.
Thanks

OK, well it's not something I've ever tried. Maybe someone else will have a suggestion.

Me, I would probably just leave it, or if it bothered me, I'd stabilise it with something like the butterfly inlay above and just fill the crack with filler.

But it depends on how the piece was put together - whether it allows the seat to expand or contract with moisture changes, or if it's holding it rigid at each edge, which gives the timber no option but to split as it shrinks. If that's the case, there's probably not much you can do to stop it opening up again.