Thread: Is this fixable? Surface prep of table top.

No. Not really. What that indicates is the wood has essentially snapped/cracked. If you look at the end grain you may well see the crack emanating along the edge somewhere, or possibly even on the other side of the board. A colour matching filler, or like you suggested rip it out and insert another board.

It does look like the wood has split there. Probably tension during drying. CA glue may hold the crack together then scrape or very fine set plane. Other thought is can it be turned over then be out of sight or is the crack all the way through.
Regards
John

The edge of the crack was flaky, CA might have been an option before I started picking at it, but when I tried to probe it largish chunks just lifted out without effort. I proceeded to pick out what was loose and the crack didn't seem to go any deeper or further than a couple of mm. I can't just flip the top as the boards on the back have quite a bit of sapwood showing. Before I committed to ripping it apart I thought I may as well try and sink a Dutchman first.

It was impossible to find a plug to match the grain really well but I think the patch worked out relatively OK. Wetting it down highlights the edges but I'm guessing they might not be as obvious when oiled.

patch1.jpg patch2.jpg

One of the tables already has 2 glued up legs, another bit of patching won't be entirely out of place. In any case the Fuzzette is a Quilter and appreciates patchwork and will probably place a small quilted runner over it anyway.