How Embarassing

[Scratch]

I was showing some pens to a potential customer yesterday.
He was looking at a pen I made from cocobolo and finished with CA.As he handed it back to me I noticed a quarter to a half inch crack running down the side of the pen. This pen had been made about 3 weeks ago and it wasn't cracked then.
The blanks were covered in a heavy wax coating. The only thing I can figure is the wood was still a little wet when I turned the pen.

 

[Rick_G]

I've run into this with some burls and Ziricote after a few months. Now any of those sit for a while before being put out and then checked well first.

 

[Ligget]

I have also had cracks appear a few days after turning, the worst wood I`ve had issues with is Brown Mallee Burl, no problems with the Red Mallee Burl though!

 

[CaptG]

I hate it when that happens, and it does happen. As posted above, I have learned to let the pens set for a time before offering them for sale, unless it is a custom order, then I just explain to the customer the possibilities of cracks and wood and let me know if it does.

 

[bkersten]

I had that happen early on with antler in slimlines, even though years old. Just made them thicker on the ends and rounded them off to the finials, center band & nibs- solved.

 

[Jon-wx5nco]

I've had this happen with ebony.

 

[Craftdiggity]

Happened to me with Snakewood. I actually sold the pen online and inspected it before shipping. The customer found the crack two weeks later. I refunded their $$ and had them send it back, but I felt like a smacked a$$. I looked at three other pens I made from the same batch of Snakewood, and all had cracks. Thank God I didn't sell those too.

 

[seawolf]

I have had this problem a few times also. I read a tip that has helped me. Drill the blank cut to a little over length do not glue in a tube turn to about two times the finished thickness. Place the drilled blanks in a dehydrator for a week. Check the fit of the tube, if needed redrill then glue in tube. Cut to length apply CA to ends of the blanks. Finish turning and complete the pen. This has helped me on several types of wood that are more prone to cracking.
Mark

 

[Jgrden]

I've had this happen with ebony.

Me too, just ask Dennis M.

 

[Rfturner]

I had this happen to a beautiful piece of Spalted Cocobolo, It was truely a nice piece upside it was my personal one and not a customer but it cracked about 2 months just out of the blue one day never been dropped or anything had a CA finish on it