Replies

1. 
   SgianDubh | Nov 06, 2007 10:43pm | #1

   It's unlikely they'll diappear even with heavy stock removal. It sounds like like it's surface checked from too rapid drying. Oaks are notorious for this fault and the splits usually penetrate quite deeply. Oaks are one of those species that require extra careful and slow drying to prevent surface checking.

   And if you could turn THE VOLUME DOWN A BIT, most readers would really appreciate it. All capitals text is a pig to read, and it's equivalent to permanently shouting in internet etiquette terms. Slainte.

   Richard Jones Furniture

1. 
   SCOUSEGIT | Nov 07, 2007 12:35am | #2

   Thanks for your prompt reply. This timber was was bought over the past 12 months

   and has been sticked and stacked in situ to acclimatise prior to working.

   The MC at time of purchase was on average 8% and the current reading is around

   7%.   I can only presume the damage occured during the kilning.!!!!

   Will have to rethink the project and source a different supplier.

   Sorry for the Capitals.

    

   Regards

1. 
   SgianDubh | Nov 07, 2007 02:21am | #3

   It's almost certain the damage occured early in the drying process, whether air dried or kiln dried. But being white oak it, it's American, and almost certainly was kilned at some point in the drying process prior to shipping, and I'm guessing because of your handle, shipped to the UK.

   The surface checking occurs during early stages of the process because the outer shell dries first and wants to shrink. The intermediate zone and inner core are still wet and 'fat' at that stage, so they prevent the outer shell from shrinking. One end result is surface checking as the outer shell splits to relieve the stress.

   The other end result, if the outer shell doesn't split, could be the shell setting in an oversize condition that can eventually lead to case hardening, although there are stress relieving kilning techniques used to cure case hardening. They're not always successful. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture