Amboyna Burl cracking

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Pipes

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Ok I just had a e mail from my fist complaint . A Pen I made from Amoboyna Burl has cracked after about 4 weeks in 4 places . NEVER had this happen befor any IDEA why it happened ?? [B)].I guess I been lucky .

Thanks pipes
 
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A few possibilities come to mind
1)the wood's moisture content was too high
2)the customer lives in a drier climate than you
3)the pen was subjected to frequent and extreme temperature changes
 
did the pen went in the washing machine??[:D] guess you will have to see the pen to fix it and you will be able the determinated if your finish as been change in any way. my 2 cnts
 
I have some Amboyna Burl blanks with bark inclusions; the pen developed hairline cracks a week after I turned it. It was dry blanks from Isaac. I disassembled the pen, refinished it, and it's been fine going on a couple'a months.

Gary
 
I think something that we frequently overlook is that wood is a natural product. How it will react over time, under different conditions, cannot be predicted 100%. There are just too many variables to guarantee what will happen. How we treat a customer under these circumstances is up to each maker/seller.
 
I have had the same thing happen on two Cocobolo blanks. The pens finished beautifully then a couple of days later had small cracks in the finish. Both refinished well and seem to be holding up nicely. Now when I do an oily wood or one where I suspect is not as dry as it could be I let it set for a couple of days before finishing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed waiting to see if this does the trick.
 
Well number one I will do what ever I have to in orrder to make it right ! I was slow returning the guys call because my daughter is sick and we been away a LOT last 2 weeks or so . But I have called him . And it was not the finish it was the wood . I never had one do this so I duno . He lives in the same climate as I do so thats not it . I have not got the pen back yet so I can't say what I think it is until I see it . My bet is on a bad piece a wood . [:(]
 
Originally posted by Rifleman1776
<br />I think something that we frequently overlook is that wood is a natural product. How it will react over time, under different conditions, cannot be predicted 100%. There are just too many variables to guarantee what will happen. How we treat a customer under these circumstances is up to each maker/seller.
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Exactly what I was thinking..A friend of mine wants me to turn some apricot wood into some pens. I have had the wood setting here drying for about 2 weeks and it is cracking all over the place.. I told him tonight.. I will do the best I can.. But I don't think this wood is going to last very long if at all..
 
I had the same problem with snakewood, after finishing it looks very pretty, nice shine and beautyful wood. I don't sell it, reserved it as gift for one of my friends. When the time cames to give it him I've seen a lot of little cracks in it. I give him another, but don't know how I can fix the problem with the snakewood. [:(]
clem
 
Originally posted by kent4Him
<br />Other than what Stan said, you may have got the blank too hot when sanding.
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I just did this with a redwood burl. Although it cracked right away. Could this cause a pen to crack 4 weeks later as well?

jeff
 
I had similar issues with some amboyna burl I used last year. I have also had post-assembly cracking issues with cocobolo, snakewood, rosewood burl and desert ironwood. The amboyna occurences were likely the result of wood with too high of a moisture content, as I have not had any other problems with other amboyna I used. As for the others, it almost always occurred on the thinest portions of the wood. I think these dense hardwoods are pretty prone to cracking to start with and when we turn them down to 1/16th or less, we are pushing its ability to move naturaly with enviromental change.

I am now starting my finish routine with a couple coats of thin CA prior to the medium CA Oil coats. I am hoping the thin CA will penetrate and stop/ minimize any hairline cracks brewing in the wood. Also, what I like to do when possible is turn and finish the barrels, then give it a good week or two to see what happens. If a crack appears, I hit it with thin CA and refinish.

Fortunately I don't really sell my stuff at the moment, so I don't get complaints. [:D]
 
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