Major cracks

[darrenjttu]

I bought a nice piece of walnut off E-bay which seller said it had been air dried for a year. MC was very low when I got it. Once I got it I put it in a closet for about five months. Finally I put it on the lathe and rough turnd it a littl bit. Wanted to wait until it was a little warner in the shop and this is what happens. Cracks are through out the piece and I cannot turn them out. How does a dry peice develop so many cracks?



http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr59/darrenjttu/IMG_1129.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr59/darrenjttu/IMG_1131.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr59/darrenjttu/IMG_1128.jpg

 

[Rarest wood]

The answer is because radial fissures are caused when things dry too much or dry too quickly I dont believe it was dry when you purchased it. A good MC for Wallnut is 8% what was it when you first got it off ebay? if it was higher than this putting it in a heated house will make the stresses in the timber come out hence the radial fissures most likely it went below 8% from something like 12%-18%. you can see they eminate from the center of the log of your piece. perhaps you could get some pen blanks out of it. Thats ebay for you ive had some bargains but then again Ive had some complete rubbish from it perhaps they shoould rename ebay to elottery.

 

[mrcook4570]

Exploit the cracks. Use carving tools (chisels, dremel, foredom, etc) to open up the cracks and fill with a contrasting material.