Hi, yesterday I cut a nice fork and barked. I didn't dry it, just barked and put aside. I wanted to dry it more naturally. Today I looked at it and there are severe cracks in the wood. After 1 day <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_sad.gif" alt="Sad" longdesc="3"> I don't want to imagine what it will do tommorow..<br><br>What is wrong with that wood? It's probably wild plum-tree. <br>Or do I need to let it dry with the bark? Maybe the oven might make a difference, but I didn't want to scree it up.<br><br>I'd like to "repair" it, but probably there is no good way... Any advise is welcome.<br><br><a href="http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=5&u=17729622" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/17/72/96/22/2012-014.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br><a href="http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=6&u=17729622" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/17/72/96/22/2012-015.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br><a href="http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=7&u=17729622" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/17/72/96/22/2012-016.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br><a href="http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=8&u=17729622" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/17/72/96/22/2012-017.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a>
drying with bark can eliminate cracks, or after you stripped the bark off wrap the whole thing in shrink foil, this will sow the drying down a bit but can also help against cracks
A lot of people will fill the cracks with a mixture of epoxy and colored dust to fix the structural problems, and to also create visual interest.
I always recommend the microwave oven. The water is turned into steam and the wood dries from the inside out, rather than the other way round (window sill or oven method). This is what prevents cracking.<br><br>I recommend fully drying this piece first. Then put it into the vise, attach rope instead of rubber and pull hard with both arms. If it holds, fill the cracks with glue+sawdust. If it doesn't hold - well, then it doesn't hold.<br><br>Good luck!
The wood of fruit trees, I had the same problem. It will help you with epoxy resin.<br>It also helps if you let it dry with bark, I have several forks in a plastic bag to dry up with it slowly.<br><br><img src="http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/7675/p4171118.jpg" border="0" alt="">
Thats really big cracks! the best thing is: you bring it to the fire wood and pick up a new one!<br>Forks are everywere. <br>good luck.<br><br>EDIT:<br>next time let the bark there! maybe it is better.
Thanks guys for your advices. I won't try to repair the fork, it's too risky because of the large cracks.. Instead I found a new fork and drying it very slowly. It means more than 10 sessions in microwave oven spread over 3 days. Even now it looses weight, so there is probably some more watter to dry. <br>I go slowly, because the plum cracks easily. I don't want to loose this beauty <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" longdesc="2"><a href="http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=14&u=17729622" class="postlink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://i32.servimg.com/u/f32/17/72/96/22/img_7514.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a>
