Purposely cracking wood.

[crabcreekind]

I had an idea the other day, as I wanted to hurry up some already cracked wood for casting, and it had some moisture in it still. So I threw it in my toaster oven, and I figured it would crack more and it did. (which is good, because I was casting it anyway)

So my question is, would purposely cracking wood lessen the chance of saying a ebony or snakewood pen cracking in the future, Because it has already been released of stress? And then casting it to make the blank stable.

I know there are some woods that just cannot be made into anything without cracking: ebony,snakewood,bloodwood. To name a few.

Is this just wishful thinking?

 

[Joe S.]

I don't know, sounds like a good idea though. Try it and tell us!
Never heard of bloodwood being an issue, and I just made one for a friend. Is it really that bad?

 

[crabcreekind]

I don't know, sounds like a good idea though. Try it and tell us!
Never heard of bloodwood being an issue, and I just made one for a friend. Is it really that bad?

Yea, every piece of bloodwood I have had in my shop has cracked and almost every piece I have seen in a store had cracks in it.
But I will definitely try cracking it and casting it.

 

[redbulldog]

Message removed

 

[Tim'sTurnings]

I've been making pens out of bloodwood for years and have never had any crack on me or my customers. Pre-cracking might be a good idea for some blanks and worth a try, in my opinion. So are you going to cast them like the worthless wood blanks?
Tim.

 

[JohnGreco]

Also never had a problem with Bloodwood cracking, that includes a 3' tall plaque I made hanging in my daughter's school for 2 years now....knock on Bloodwood!

 

[crabcreekind]

I've been making pens out of bloodwood for years and have never had any crack on me or my customers. Pre-cracking might be a good idea for some blanks and worth a try, in my opinion. So are you going to cast them like the worthless wood blanks?
Tim.

WOWZER,
Every piece of bloodwood cracks I have had. But yes I am planning on casting them like worthless wood.

 

[keithbyrd]

I have never had blood wood crack and I have two pens I made from snakewood - both over a year old and no cracks

 

[joefyffe]

What's the difference in the climate, where y'all live?

 

[Tim'sTurnings]

joefyffe, our locations are all by our names and avatars.
Tim.

 

[crabcreekind]

What's the difference in the climate, where y'all live?

I live in a desert. Very dry place.

 

[Jgrden]

This is good, creative thinking. My thoughts, after working with Ebony, is that anything you can do to stop expansion or contraction due to normal or forced aging is a good thing. Let's give it a try !!! I have some Ebony left and might make a daily fountain pen writer out of it after trying what you suggested. Keep in touch.