Thread: A crack under stain!

Hi Try mixing blonde shellac with some of the sanding dust and fill the cracks let dry and then sand back with 400 - 600 and apply finish Regards Roger C

Looks like air has gotten into the fixed crack. Generally when I do same it will leave a dark line and it takes me several goes at it till I am satisfied its filled. What ever you do now will only enlarge the problem. Unless you can open up the crack again carefully with a fine blade and re-fill it etc.

The only other possibility is that its not fully dry and so its still moving with the drying process. It looks like its near a knot or branch they can act like the pith at times.

I had the same issue with a piece I did. In future I'd use 5 min epoxy glue tinted with the stain.

My guess oil under CA has caused debonding, or air under, or CA has turned white from moisture etc. I would remove with acetone, then burnish with oil until crack filled with the sawdust fines.

I think I will have to remove the CA.
I Might try a dremel with a dentist drill type bit. I haven't used a dremel before so it will be interesting. (Although I have had a few teeth filled!)
I can only fix it or stuff it up I guess.
It's a 40 cm platter so it's worth trying to fix, I think. It's supposed to be a wedding present and I can't give it away as it is.
Thank to everyone for their input.

Originally Posted by steck

I think I will have to remove the CA.
I Might try a dremel with a dentist drill type bit. I haven't used a dremel before so it will be interesting.

A Dremel tool and burr will want to pull to the side and might dig into the wood rather than the CA. Practice on a piece of scrap if you go this way.

I would make a tool like a nut pick or cats claw and gently pick out the CA, then using fine sandpaper and the finish as a lubricant, wet sand the area by hand, let dry overnight, dry sand and if the crack is filled, finish. If the first try does not fill the crack, repeat.

I have used the wet sanding method with tung oil many times for non structural cracks or tear outs. It blends well.

That is a nice piece, I hope you are able to salvage it.

Originally Posted by Paul39

A Dremel tool and burr will want to pull to the side and might dig into the wood rather than the CA. Practice on a piece of scrap if you go this way.

I would make a tool like a nut pick or cats claw and gently pick out the CA, then using fine sandpaper and the finish as a lubricant, wet sand the area by hand, let dry overnight, dry sand and if the crack is filled, finish. If the first try does not fill the crack, repeat.

I have used the wet sanding method with tung oil many times for non structural cracks or tear outs. It blends well.

That is a nice piece, I hope you are able to salvage it.

Thank you for the compliment!
I went to Bunnings last night and bought an Ozito dremel type machine. ( This is getting to be an expensive platter!). I practised on a bit of scrap first and the needle bit I used was spinning slightly off centre so that the Minimum groove I could make was about 2mm wide.
I will return the machine today.

I might buy a real Dremel in the hope that it will be more accurate
OR
I might try the pick idea. Now I wonder what I can make a pick out of? I know I have seen them somewhere but I just can't recall where.

Kinchrome do a pick set you can pick up from the tool shop at Bunnies. Kinchrome part #06058 Bunnies F/L# 610026 $14.50. HTH.

hi steck
very nice platter,shame about the scratch,instead of fixing it
why don't you cover it up !!!!!
maybe a circle of texturing and coloured black
or a set of beads,just in the centre painted another colour
just a couple of suggestions hope you don't mind
cheers smiife

Originally Posted by steck

I might try the pick idea. Now I wonder what I can make a pick out of? I know I have seen them somewhere but I just can't recall where.

Get what we call a cut nail or masonry nail for driving into concrete. Turn a comfortable handle and drive and or glue the nail into it. Grind the end of the nail to suit. Do quick swipes on the grinder and cool in water as the small section heats up quickly and will lose the hardness if overheated.

The nails are high carbon steel and hold a pretty good edge.

See: https://www.google.com/search?tbm=is....0.2i5SpK1o6z0

Nut cracker picks: Google Image Result for http://www.chinatraderonline.com/files3/2010-11/26/seafood-nut-cracker-and-pick-set-17183787881.jpg

Originally Posted by Grumpy John

Kinchrome do a pick set you can pick up from the tool shop at Bunnies. Kinchrome part #06058 Bunnies F/L# 610026 $14.50. HTH.

Thanks GJ!

Originally Posted by smiife

hi steck
very nice platter,shame about the scratch,instead of fixing it
why don't you cover it up !!!!!
maybe a circle of texturing and coloured black
or a set of beads,just in the centre painted another colour
just a couple of suggestions hope you don't mind
cheers smiife

Very good suggestions, Smiife.
Thanks for that. I may go along that path. I wonder how a veneer inlay would go?

Happy endings!
I bought a real Dremel from Bunnings and it is a beaut. Spins very true!
Using a tiny dentist type drill I drilled out the old CA glue and tried to make it look natural.
I filled it with ebony colored wood putty. Not my favorite filler but I was getting a bit tired of this particular platter!
4 coats of Wipe On Poly, wet sanded with 360 grit so far. (The finish is still wet in the photo). I think 1 more coat will do it. Some bits of this wood were very thirsty.

Thanks to everyone who helped me nut this out.

Originally Posted by steck

Happy endings!

It looks great! Glad you were able to pull it back from the brink of disaster.