How to repair a crack in a hibiscus root sculpture?

[qhdesigner]

I purchased a wonderful sculpture of a monkey in Bali last fall. It is made of hibiscus root. I had been warned by someone the wood items from se Asia don't hold up well in this environment: I am in the mid-Atlantic states. I am not a woodcarver and so I have not had experience repair this type of object. It was not expensive (less than $10.) but it is quite wonderful. Can anyone please guide me as to how to repair this crack and possibly prevent any future cracking?
Thank you!
qhdesigner

[Paul_Guraedy]

It would help us if you posted a photo of the carvings. Could you take a digital photo and reduce it to no more than 780x580 pixels?

Just go to reply to thread, note that you are uploading the photo, go to manage attachments, go to browse, select the photo on your computer, select open, click on upload, close the manage attachments window and click on submit.

If you do not have and can't take a digital photo, give us a little more information. How tall and how wide is the carving? How wide is the crack at its opening, and how far into the carving does it extend? Is the carving painted? Do you want the crack to disappear or just keep it from spreading?

A lot of questions, but the fix should not be too difficult. If you have any problems uploading the photo, contact me at my email address for assistance.

[qhdesigner]

Paul,
I forgot to add in my note to you that I want it to stop spreading and I would like it to disappear if that is possible.
Thanks again.

[javier]

Hi,

I bought a hibiscus wood scupulture in Bali, and after a month have two cracks at the base of it.

Since weather in Bali is hot and very humid I asked when I bought it if needs any kind of oil care etc since the sculpture will be placed in a relative dry weather place like Melbourne, Australia, I being told that will not be affected.

Now that the cracks came:

is it possible to fix it?
If so how?
can I do something to avoid to happen again in other areas?

I can post a detailed picture if need it.

Thanks in advance!

Javier

[javier]

Hi,

I bought a hibiscus wood scupulture in Bali, and after a month have two cracks at the base of it.

Since weather in Bali is hot and very humid I asked when I bought it if needs any kind of oil care etc since the sculpture will be placed in a relative dry weather place like Melbourne, Australia, I being told that will not be affected.

Now that the cracks came:

is it possible to fix it?
If so how?
can I do something to avoid to happen again in other areas?

I can post a detailed picture if need it.

Thanks in advance!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

when a piece of wood goes from a humid area to a dry area...it will crack! We have a large crack in my wifes grandmothers old clawfoot table ...went from california to colorado where its very dry then to the arizona desert...just a character mark now, will not try to fix it. its the wood trying to relieve internal pressure. that and the moisture evaporating...which is basicly the same thing! You can't count much on people telling you the truth anymore can you? But they sold it..guess the few sheckles they got for the carving was more important than truth!

[Keoma]

If it bothers you that much, maybe you can fill it with epoxy? I would not try to clapmp it, it will just make it crack somewhere else. Bummer for you, but I think Hi Ho is right, it just gives it charachter. When you pass it on as an heirloom, there is now a story that goes with it Good luck to you

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Javier. Sorry to hear about the cracking.

I would like to se a photo of your hibiscus sculpture. Several views if possible.

[mark yundt]

A photo would be helpful to determine how best to go about fixing it.
Is there something you can do to make it go away or disappear,,,well not really. If the crack is there it will need to be filled. There is nothing you can do to reverse the process,,you can't add "oils" or anything to make it go away. It's there,,it'll stay there.
As far as woods from different parts of the world. I use them from every corner as well as do most woodworkers. Where it came from has very little to do with anything and how they survive.
You say the crack is at the base. I'm just guessing,,but I'm willing to bet the whole thing was carved from one piece ,be it a log,branch or stump of some tree. That is where it'll start cracking first. That's the problem many carvers here deal with.
If you look at any wood pile outside someones house,,the wood was cut right here in this climate,,and what do you see? Cracks and splits. Doesn't matter where it's from,,as wood dries,,this is what it does.Shrinks,,cracks and splits. I don't mean to sound cold or callused,,but that's the nature of the beast anywhere in the world,,and where ever it ends up. Especially if it's carved from one solid piece. It's gonna happen.
How to fix it,,,that's another story.And will that stop it from getting further cracks,,,maybe,,maybe not. Depends on many factors. Many you cannot control.

[javier]

Thanks for your response!

Please note attached images!

Is there anything to avoid more new cracks to come in a dry weather like place?

Lemon oil I read from a Indonnesian wood exporter. is it?

Thanks again,

Javier