Repairing hairline cracks in Maple wood countertops?
user-7703488
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Hello,
I just finished the last coat of Waterlox finish for three 1 1/4″ thick Maple kitchen countertops and noticed that there is a series of hairline cracks at the edge of one of the boards. The cracks are really small and the countertop will be positioned so that they are not noticeable. My main worry is that the cracks will get larger after I install the countertop. Should I be concerned? If so, what can I do to prevent further damage?
Replies
Is it a solid top, or is it laminated -- layers?
Solid hard maple. Here they are
It is likely the boards ends that were not cut back enough, nothing you can do but hope they do not extend a bit, if the wood is dry they should stay as is.
Yes, it looks like I should have cut it back further. I think the cracks might have occurred as I was gluing up the top and keeping the boards straight. This end of the countertop shouldn't get wet, so hopefully it won't be a problem. But if it does continue to widen, do you think I will need to use superglue or something else to keep the cracks from widening?
Always a good idea to wipe the first 12"s or so of boards with mineral spirits. That simple process can reveal many flaws hidden to the naked eye until it is too late.
No glue will keep those boards from doing what they want to do. If you had to crank hard to close the gaps they may come back to haunt you. (One of the splits looks like a glueline) That end of the counter looks like a perfect place to park the toaster-oven.
As a matter of fact, that is exactly where the toaster generally sits. I appreciate everyone's help. I just wish that there was more that I could do. It is painful to work long hours on a job only to find a flaw at the end.
Not to throw insult upon injury but the heat from a toaster oven very well could dry out the boards enough to cause the cracks to worsen. I might look for another location for it. If not maybe a stainless heatshield under it may help especially if you can elevate it ΒΌ" or so.
You might be able to limit the damage by routing in butterflies on the backside like is often done with live slab table tops. I can't see where it would hurt.
I'll keep the toaster away from the cracks and just hope for the best. If it becomes a bigger problem, then butterflies are a good option. As you say, it can't hurt and they look good when done well.
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