I was given a piece of walnut firewood to play with. It could end up as a 10 inch bowl with the pith about 1.5 inches from the rim. Would it make any sense to drill out the pith area and fill with Inlace to prevent any future cracking?
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Inlace to the rescue?
- Thread starter cwearing
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I would be very apprehensive about including the pith, whether drilled out or not. I also think that replacing it with Inlace would be substituting one problem for another. Do you have a picture that would help show what the piece looks like? It seems to me like it would be better to settle for somerthing that is a bit smaller or not as deep so that the pith area can be avoided.
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I'm thinking along the lines of Bill.
I'd be reluctant to use the pith unless it was a main feature.
If the sapwood is in good shape consider a natural edge bowl.
Don't save the bark use the white sap ring to highlight the rim.
Probably have to bleach the sap ring back to white if it has cut for a while.
Walnut is terrific spindle stock.
For gavels, boxes, ornament finials....
A picture might spawn additional suggestions.
Al
I'd be reluctant to use the pith unless it was a main feature.
If the sapwood is in good shape consider a natural edge bowl.
Don't save the bark use the white sap ring to highlight the rim.
Probably have to bleach the sap ring back to white if it has cut for a while.
Walnut is terrific spindle stock.
For gavels, boxes, ornament finials....
A picture might spawn additional suggestions.
Al
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
Well I have done it with both INlace and Epoxy. Ideally you need to drill or cut out an area larger than just the pith. Not a lot but the further you get away from the pith the fewer problems you have in the future. I have also been known to leave the actual pith if it doesn't have cracks and just enlarge the cracks created outside the pith area. I fill those with epoxy or Inlace. You will have to back up the area you want to fill with tape and then pour into the void and overfill. Carve, sand or turn it down flush after it dries.
worse case scenario, it doesn't work and you have to toss it anyway, so really nothing is lost in trying and you learn a new process while doing it.
worse case scenario, it doesn't work and you have to toss it anyway, so really nothing is lost in trying and you learn a new process while doing it.
Soak the pith with CA and dry it slowly.
I've done end grain walnut up to 16" without cracking