Cracked Spoon

[ddt]

Hi,
Several months ago I started carving useable spoons, the long handled type for big pots! Been using aspen, and red oak. Then I found some chinaberry, and tried it. Chinaberry has a history of cracking, and it is cracking on me. The crack started at the tip or lip of the spoon, and i thought I could carve it "away", but no it is running up from the lip thru the middle of the bottom part of the spoon. So I ask,,,,,,,what sort of glue do I use to stop this///fill in this crack; that will still be safe to use in food? I realize that I could simply glue it,,,,,and have a "pretty" spoon, but I hope to keep it useable. Thanks for your ideas and help. ddt

[tucker1931]

I feel your pain, I was micro waving a beautiful lilac blank yesterday and for some reason (unknown to me) I think I must have give it too much heat, I lost it and am really upset about it, it had rhe most beautiful grain in it you can imagine. As for your problem, there really is no solution that I'm aware of, I think it's gonna go into the scrap bucket.
Cliff

[schizoidlogger]

You might want to try this stuff.

Selleys 308 High Stress Wood Glue

[schizoidlogger]

Hi Tucker,

Sorry to hear about your microwave problem. It sounds like you may have too high of a heat setting. I put it on "defrost" for about a minute and one half and then wrap it in a towel to cool slowly. Have to be patient, but so far haven't had a problem (touch wood). Ha!

[davidinsarasota]

Is Chinaberry safe to eat off?

[tucker1931]

Thanks there Logger, dang, I've had no trouble with bich. I was so happy to get the lilac and only managed to get three spoons out of a four foot length. Gotta go and steal me some more lilac.
Cliff

[chuckbolton]

have u thought about drilling a very small hole at the end of the crack-- to relieve the stress- if it doesnt work--you are no worse off-- seems to me i read about doing this in something else. but couldnt tell you where or what--u know how it is when u get older. then when it stops, you repair the crack.

[Claude]

In the "for what it's worth" mode:

I did a search for poisonous plants in the US, and found this:
Poisonous Plants of the Southern United States* - Content

Here's the item listed for chinaberry:
Poisonous Plants of the Southern United States - Page 14

Claude

[Dan S]

I don't know what your design looks like, but can you convert it to a slotted spoon or a salad serving fork? This may releive the stress like Chucks suggestion with the small hole.
I've also had problems with wooden spoons cracking. If you dry them immediately after washing them it can help reduce this problem (or so i've heard). For the most part though, I don't worry about small cracks. The spoon still works.

Dan

[schizoidlogger]

Hi Cliff,

When it comes to microwaving wood it's better to error on the side of caution and let it cool completely between cycles.

You're lucky in Ontario to have a variety of wood. Don't have too many fruit trees etc. up our way.