Cracked Basswood

[Colin-Partridge]

Hi gang,
I have a little problem I was wondering if there was a solution. I am doing a cane segment for a friend and when I got part way into the carving the block split the whole length of block. Not a wide crack but three small cracks. Now parts of the carving move when I am carving them. I had heard somewhere that you can use a crazy glue or super glue solution. How do you thin it down to pour it into the cracks and will it still take stain or paint where you do this. I know someone will have the answer and I know I could just toss the block and start again but I dont want to do that, I have never thrown a carving away.
Colin

[Anthony Filetti]

Colin,

Super glue comes in different thicknesses, where the the thickness dictates the drying time. There is also an accellerant they sell which thins and speeds drying. I have not used this for carving just for radio control planes.
Your best bet would be a hobby store that sells RC cars and Planes they should have a brand called Super Jet and sell the accellerant as well.

As far as discoloration goes, it turns the wood the color of wood treated with Boiled Linseed Oil, but sometimes if put on to thick will leave a white crusty film. Hope this helps.

Tony

[Bob's Birds]

Colin,
Just ordinary Elmer's type wood glue will work. It takes paint OK. Anyway if it is for our friend he will be happy with the one of a kind work of art you will produce.

Bob

[jamesfa]

Colin-a trick a wood turner showed me was to pack the crack with fine saw dust from the same wood and then pour on a couple of drops of vary thin glue.

(lee valley has a product called "hot stuff" which has the consistency of water.or superT which has the consistency of syrup.)
if it is just a hair line crack just drop the glue along the crack line
if you know anyone who turns wood they may have some,itwon't take a lot
once dry the crack will look like its been varnished and most of the surface shine can be sanded off.

Frank