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stuck in a rut and need help.....

2K views 23 replies 13 participants last post by  gfadvm 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm working on a Hope Chest for/with my oldest daughter (blogging it here)

I had a red oak timber (8×8x14') left over from the framing of our house (DIY timberframe 16 years ago) and the idea of making the chest from the same lumber that came off our land and framed our house was appealing so I had it resawn and have been prepping the stock (joining and planing) for the project.

My problem is that the lumber has so many knots, checks and splits, that I'm finding it very difficult to get boards wide and long enough (I need 8 at 4-1/2" x 42") for the glued up top and the long rails. And though I've done a fair bit of framing and finish carpentry in my time, this is my first true furniture project…. so I don't know how large of a defect is acceptable.

Aesthetically, small tight knots are not really a show stopper for us….. but something that opens up and ruins the finished chest a month after it's done is.

Here's some specifics…

1. After squaring up and plainin the lumber down to 7/8", I have some residual checks/splits that show on the back side of some of my boards, but only go ~ half way through of less. Are these safe to use?

2. Or how about the swirled or angled grain (from knots that were ripped out of the board). Will they cause problems?

3. I have a few small (~1/4" dia.) crumbly black knots remaining in boards that I really need. Can I fill these with epoxy to stabilize them?

Should I rip down the few 5" wide boards that I have to remove all defects and make the glued up top out of ~3" wide boards instead?

The lumber is very dry (< the 6% min. reading on my old analog moisture meter) and is a mix of straight and face grain.

I'm beginning to wish I had not offered this lumber as an option….. I've got a lot of time into prepping a small stack of boards, that may not even be suitable. More than half of the lumber will wind up in the wood stove.

We're not looking for the posh and perfect look…. Shaker/country is more our style. But I don't want it to warp or split.

The biggest lesson learned from my DIY timber frame was "never again poor tons of labor into sub standard materials"..... I don't want/need perfection…. but I don't want to make the same mistake again either.

Help and advice is much appreciated.
 
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#2 ·
Only you and your daughter can decide what is acceptable and what looks good on this project, anyone
else is just a spectator. Epoxy can fill in holes and defects and if you mix in various elements as several have
on this site, it can also add a special look. We can not see the wood, so you are going to have to rely on
your experience with wood to decide what can be used, if you are careful and rip your wood correctly,
you can join similar pieces and make wide surface that looks very good. If you do not feel comfortable
about the wood you have, it would probably be best to use what you can and try to buy matching wood
to finish out the chest. Hope you have fun working on this chest and that both you and your daughter
enjoy it for a long time.
 
#3 ·
I'm not the best source of knowledge when it comes to the tendencies of different kinds of lumber to move and/or deteriorate, but after looking at the pictures you've posted, the lumber doesn't look bad at all.
I think the fact that it is from the same stack you used to build your house makes it the ideal lumber to use, BECAUSE it has that connection.
I will be the first to tell you that anyone else on here can give you a more learned answer on this than myself, but I think you should keep going with the project. Nothing is perfect, especially our relationships with those we love. In my opinion, a couple of defects are representative of those imperfections, but the finished chest will be representative of your total love of your daughter.
Maybe post some closer pictures of the defects you're concerned about, so people can get a better idea of what you're up against.
Good luck either way!
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the imput so far, I'll post up some better pics tonight.

I actually dug up some add'l lumber that was sawn into boards way back then (and not beams). It's amazing how they dried so differently. The beams get a real stress war going on caused by the difference in radial shrink and that along the flat faces, causing deep checks. The boards have almost no checking (accept a little at the ends) but were bent and cupped. I managed to get 4 nice boards out of that stash, only to find out that the color is much lighter. The lumber from the beam is much redder. Obviously from different trees….. there's just so maney species that fall into the category "red oak" it's mind boggling.
 
#5 ·
I completely agree with Gus and Gabes comments. I have used wood like you have described in the past and was sucessfull especially if the checking only goes half way through you can have the worst side faced toward the inside where it will not be seen. If you have a knot you are worried it might come loose six months after you finish the progect, you are right in repaiting the knot with epoxy. CA glue works well for this too. For glued up panels, I would recommend making your glue up larger than required and after you see the result and how the wood responds from the glue up, then cut your panel down to size so you can make any adjustments if the wood sis anything crazy or unexpected.
For the most part I think you will be fine though as you have good moisture readings indicating the wood is dry and most likely stable. Good luck on your project.
 
#6 ·
The lumber pictures posted in your project look fine to me, but as everyone else has said, only you and your daughter can say what looks acceptable. I think the knots and swirls add character to the piece. And, CA or epoxy can take care of the checks and "crumbly" knots
 
#7 ·
You could measure it out to include a cedar liner made of 1×6 planks. If you glue them to the oak, the knots are more likely to stay put and the chest will smell like cedar which will help preserve anything she puts in there which almost always end up being things she want's to keep for a lifetime. Be sure to take a few pictures of you guys working together and put them in the interior lid so she can look back and remember.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
take a few pictures of you guys working together and put them in the interior lid so she can look back and remember

That's a great idea…. Now I have a use for the 16 oz bottle of "mod podge" my wife used on her latest craft project.

include a cedar liner made of 1×6 planks

The NYWS plan we're using as our guide has a Cedar bottom…. not sure that would work on the flat top…

Well after a quick Google search and Wikipedia read, I now know what CA glue is…. Simple minds like me will still call it Krazy Glue or Super Glue :^) I never knew this stuff was suitable for use with wood (I usually use it to fix broken toys). It's so thin and viscous, I bet I could get it down into a split prior to clamping up my glued up panel. Sound like a good idea?
 
#9 ·
I, too, think the lumber looks really good. To me, a few knots add a lot of character. I think its gonna look great!

Any knots you're worried about, epoxy. Money-side checks you might want to epoxy, too. This material prep work IS worth it, since the history of the material is priceless.

Good to think about color matching, but the pics don't look all that dis-similiar. If the salvaged boards are noticeably a different color, how about resawing them and using them as the panels?

If it were me, I'd definitely keep going!

BTW, its wonderful to keep your daughter involved in the project. You just might be giving her the gift of an avocation she'll cherish her whole life - just as much as she cherishes the beautiful Hope Chest that encompasses your shared experience. Just remember, before you start any tool - make sure you know where all 20 fingers are!!!
 
#10 ·
CA works, and you can get gel CA that doesn't run as much as the thin stuff (which is like water).

I do think epoxy is probably a better bet for this project, but CA will do the job.

I also agree that filling your voids with epoxy (or CA) will make the wood very useable for your chest.

Also, you could consider using dutchmen. I see a lot of furniture that proudly shows wood defects filled with dutchmen, especially across a board boundary. Again a matter of taste, but it's a good solution mechanically.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
picture time…. here's some knots

This one doesn't go through

Brown Wood Rectangle Table Flooring


This one is at the edge (round black part is ~1/4" dia)

Wood Fluid Wood stain Trunk Hardwood


this one is ~ 1" dia, goes through and is cracked on this side

Brown Wood Natural material Flooring Hardwood


here's a crack (shake?) at edge

Brown Rectangle Wood Shade Flooring
 

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#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
and here's a split that does go through…

Table Wood Handwriting Rectangle Wood stain


back side….

Brown Wood Rectangle Amber Office ruler


This is a nice 5 1/2" board, but I'll have to rip it down to 3 3/4" if I cut out the split….

any advice on whether to use or not use in my glued up top?

any advice on how to mend / stabilize?
 

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#14 ·
You could use durchmen / bowtiew to keep those cracks tightened up. I really like the look of the lumber you're using, i wouldnt have any problem using those boards. To me i like a piece of furniture to tell a story rather than be purely asthetic and your lumber has got a great begining.
 
#16 ·
Tightbond makes an "Instant Bond" CA glue that comes in several different viscosities. I use the thick to fill cracks and small knots like you show. The gel seems too thick to flow down into cracks. Be sure to put some tape on the back side of the defects before applying the glue or it will just run out the back side. Don't ask how I learned this!.Good luck and I like the wood. It has character.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
Like Jim said, some knots add character. Sometimes if the lumber is perfect, the piece ends up looking kind of boring. However, I wouldnt use knots that go through, or are loose, or anything with checks in it. If you could rip the boards and remove the knots, and still have some width to work with you could glue them together to make the top if you match the grain. Three inch width is getting narrow, but you could still do it if you can match the grain. Be sure to alternate the end grain to prevent warping.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just a quick thought.

You could rip your stock into 2"x 2"s, then you would have 4 sides to choose from. Select the best faces and glue up panels as you would for a cutting board, resaw, plane or face joint narrow panels to desired thickness, then edge glue to the size or a little wider and then cut the panels to the sizes you need for your chest.

This would stretch your supply by a greater number of useable faces.

Just a thought. It's bound to be "Special" no matter which solution works best for the project.

Best Wishes for a Success Build.
 
#20 ·
Fixing cracks and knots isn't that difficult.

For loose knots I use epoxy and my shop vac. Using the shop vac on the back side with a layer of coffee filter paper between the wood and the nozzle, pour epoxy into the crack or knot. The shop vac sucks it in, the filter paper blocks it from going too far. Let it set up and add more as needed to a level just proud of the top. Sand top and bottom, your good to go.
With cracks and checks that don't go all the way through, use your imagination.
I had a piece of Hickory I HAD to use because it was the last matching piece but it had a nasty split for about 6" on one edge. I taped the side and used the shop vac on the wide end of the crack to suck epoxy into it. Once that was done, I clamped it and waited until it was cured then surfaced and completed the piece I was working on.
 
#21 ·
Tonight we sorted our boards and selected the ones for use in the top

Brown Wood Flooring Floor Rectangle


And we have a plan to incorporate the lighter tone boards from a differnt log. We'll use them to make up the panels and gain a subtle two tone look.

Brown Wood Rectangle Flooring Wood stain


Like? Don't like? Comments welcome….
 

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