[Irishman]

This is the first time I have experienced such an aggressive crack in the wood. I never paint may carvings but I thought I'd try and fill the crack with sawdust and wood glue, then paint the carving. As you can see, the yellow wood glue is right up the middle of the carving and stopped around the nose. It's pretty difficult to carve the glue to make the line disappear even when I paint it. Any product out there used by carvers that would have helped me do the job? I'm so discussed with it I may cut him into chunks and save the parts not cracked for paper weights.
Patrick

[Claude]

Not to be gross or anything, but it just looks like he has a cold... I don't know if it's too late, but there are wood putties (basically, a glue and sawdust mix, I think) that can be sanded and stained that you might be able to layer over top of the glue...
Nice carving, otherwise!
Claude

[wade clark]

Patrick,
First, Beautiful carving!
Second, ...maybe an antihistamine .... sorry, I couldn't resist.
First, Beautiful carving!
Wade

[Ron Davidson]

There are some wood fillers that can be colored with stain. They dry real fast and have to be pre stained. What about removing a layer of the glue mixture you put in and try and cut a peice of wood to glue in the spotp Might be worth a try.
I had the same problem with worm holes in butternut. I just enlarged it a little and made a patch. Had too it was a santa and if I didn't fix it it would have looked like a bullet hole in his head.
Ron

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I use "Apoxie" a lot, also a putty bar I get at home depot that works good...also Lynns Bondo works.....and try painting it....nothing wrong with painted!

[Irishman]

I probably will remove the yellow glue (or discharge....very funny you guys) and check and see what is out there for wood putty. If I plan to continue using logs, I need to resign myself that there will be cracks. Thanks for the tips everyone.
Patrick

[Just Carving]

Patrick,

Nice carving--regardless of the crack. I have a question. Did the crack happen while you were carving? I'm guessing it did. Otherwise, it may be one of those things where you have to plan your carving around whatever is in the wood, i.e. incorporate the crack into the features you're carving. I guess it's hard to do but with an imagination, it's possible.

I see chainsaw carvers making long v cuts to the back of their carvings I believe they do this to relieve the uneven stresses caused by carving one side of the log. I wonder if making a relief cut to the opposite side of the log would be helpful in your situation, that is, if the crack occurred while carving.

[squbrigg]

Another solution for carack I've seen used are thin wedges inserted into the crack and cut flush, wedges made from the same wood of course. Regardless of the crack, that's a nice piece of carving Patrick. Painting will look great!

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

The best woodfiller I've found is Tuf-Carve or Tuf-Fil. Have used it for years. It's a nice blond color and I've always liked Blonds. After the stuff sets up you can carve it with ease and it hardens like normal epoxy. Once it's painted you can't even tell it's there. You can get it here. Comes is several shades.

www.freemansupply.com/TUFCarv.htm

[Irishman]

Bob - it did crack while I was carving. I have been told by a few on this site to bore a hole down through the middle of the log to releave the stress. I've been keeping my eyes open at flea markets for an old arbor/drill.
Bob S - the crack doesn't appear suited for wedge pieces as I considered that but thanks for the suggestion.
Lynn - I'll search our area for those brands of wood puddy. Never used the stuff so I appreciate hearing what carvers like to use.
Patrick