Help with Repairing / CA Cracking!!

[mikemac]

I've had my first pen returned.. of course, its also the most expensive sale I've made :frown:

The pen (DI Burl) with 3 coats of CA, has developed 5 or 6 significant cracks, with no pattern (ie not along grain, etc)

First, has any one had this happen before? Could it be from mis-treatment? Dropping? Either way, I want to save it, keep the customer happy, but I'm a bit baffled.

2nd, I've managed to disassemble it, (no easy feat, yay me ) and want to refinish it, but its likely going to be smaller than the hardware afterwards. Should I just try building it up with CA again...?

All suggestions/comments greatly appreciated!

 

[hunter-27]

I'm far from an expert but I would guess that if you can sand it down and "repair" the spot, you should be able to use ca to "build up" the difference so there is a smooth wood/hardware transition. The randomness of the grain looks as if there could be a good chance for an acceptable repair.

 

[marshall]

Was The wood complete dry before you turned? I've seen this happen to pens that the blanks were still green. I have also repaired one with ca build up & that pen is my favorite one.

 

[chriselle]

Sand it down. Thin CA to stabilize it a bit and try building it up again.

BUT..

I'll bet you get 50/50 odds (at best) it won't develop cracks again though. If not at the exact same place..somewhere else in the blank.

The dynamic joys of wood.

 

[Rudy Vey]

Have you asked the customer how the pen was stored?? Drastic change in the climate may make wood crack. If a wooden pen is left for example in a car it can get very hot during the summer and extremely cold in the winter.
We always give a card with care instruction, that includes tips like not to leave a pen in a car, in the sun etc.
Since you could dis-assemble the pen, I would do what others already said, carefully sand down, fill the cracks and re-finish.