Oak table.

[colwoodlandcare]

So I've started building my self an Oak dining table in the workshop. I brought a few off cuts into the house that I made into candle holders and they have split within a few days.

A lot of the timber I'm using fell over in the 87 hurricane so ild thought it would be dry, how can I go about not letting it split?

 

 

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Colwood Land Care, Tree surgery, Sussex

[Wendelspanswick]

Where has it been stored and in what form?

[colwoodlandcare]

Only planked in about a month ago, it has been in a lean too, then moved into the workshop where it was fine.

I'm guessing I took the candle holder in to the warm to quickly after having fresh sides cut?

Does putting wax or Somthing on help?

 

 

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[54gka]

I to have this with well seasond wood especially Oak.I now clamp it and use ratchet straps and leave it inside for a few weeks.Sometimes I'll bring it inside checking daily and if i see the start of a split I'll stick in a bow tie quick.

 

Kev

[colwoodlandcare]

So I'm guess it's because it's drying to quickly. If it was sealed or waxed in somethings would this help?

 

 

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[54gka]

I sometimes seal the ends with pva but i do that as soon as i've milled and still clamp and use straps and store in the coolest room in the house for a few weeks then into a slightly warmer room.I'll do this when near the end of build then finish off back in the heated workshop as keep moving from house to a workshop can draw in moisture again.

[Big Beech]

Oak ideally needs to be stored correctly for about a inch per year thickness. Then kilning to bring the MC down in a slow manner.bringing any month old green wood in the house as you have found will move a food degree.

[colwoodlandcare]

So you say a year an inch, if it fell down in 1987 and it was about 28" it should be close on time.

I might leave it in the workshop for a while then move it into a bit warmer rooms slowly.

 

 

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[agrimog]

if you only planked it a month ago, it'll still be green in the centre, doesnt matter how long its been lying, unless the fibres are exposed it wont give up its moisture

[Big Beech]

As noted above, felling date or falling over date has no bearing what so ever on its dryness, so a 2" thick slab is 2 years natural air drying etc. Etc.