This is the first time I’ve worked with hickory. I bought some 6/4 going to plane it down to 1” or maybe 1-1/16th thick. The boards wider than 6-7 “ have cracks running length wise, I drilled a 1/4” hole at the end of the crack in an attempt to stop the crack from continuing. The wood has to acclimate to my shop so it is stacked snd stickered, will sit for a couple of weeks. Mc of 8%. My thoughts are to put some epoxy in the cracks and clamp the board back together or as close as possible, run them close to thickness and then install bow ties between the cracks. This is rustic lumber so a smallish crack won’t matter. Does this sound like a good idea or should I put the bow ties in first, but make them thicker knowing the boards will be thinner? Any other thoughts?
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Replies
The split aside get ready for an experience, I built my first project from Hickory last summer and it was quite the challenge to mill. Even with a new edge helical carbide cutter head the hard interlocked grain proved to be quite difficult to master, with tearout pulling out like string cheese in 2-3" long deep gouges. All I can say is make sure your planer and jointer knives are freshly sharpened and take tissue paper thin passes and be prepared to live with some tearout around the knots.
As for the split I don't know how you would intend to use the epoxy to close the gap with the ¼" hole you drilled so it sounds to me like bow ties will be the only answer and covering the hole with a bow tie. I would think putting them in after planing would be best.
I just finished a desk/bookshelves corner unit made from hickory, 100 board feet went into it, 4/4 and 6/4. It was not my first time with this wood but things went smoothly, it is definitely hard and heavy but workability was good . I suspect it’s a difficult wood to process in the kiln, like oak, and some batches should not have made it to market.
I believe those splits are called crazes. Due to grain defect in the wood. I've seen it hard maple, too.
I would run some thin epoxy in the cracks and clamp them the best you can, then continue milling. You have to really watch the grain, hickory tears out like crazy.
I suggest you have a standby set of planer knives.
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