Replies

1. 
   tms | Jan 20, 2005 09:04pm | #1

   I wouldn't try to fill it. Anything that you put in there won't shrink and swell at the same rate as the wood around it, and will be painfully obvious as the wood moves.

   I would put a bowtie (or butterfly) inlay across the check to strengthen the slab and leave it as a character of the wood. Use two if you need to, one at the end of the check to stop it's progress, and another half way down.

   Tom

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jan 20, 2005 09:35pm | #2

   I agree with tms that fillers don't work.  Butterfly keys work well, and the crack between the keys reminds the viewer that this is a piece of a tree, just like Mom Nature made it.   However, if you don't want a visible crack, you can fill the whole thing with wood.  Inlay a thick piece of wood -- perhaps more koa -- so that the grain runs the same direction as the grain in the slab, and it bridges the crack.  You can even make the added piece of wood as thick as the slab.   The added piece of wood, glued well to the slab, will fill the crack and hold the slab together.  

1. 
   Hoohuli | Jan 21, 2005 08:06am | #3

   Mahalo for the input. I've never done 'butterflies' so will not attempt it on this piece. I'll just leave it natural like you both suggest. Actually I've had the slab for about 11 years and the check was there when I got it and has not moved, so I think it will stay put now. Next problem is what wood to use for the legs. Koa is very hard to come by, probably will use some Kiawe (Texas Mesquite).