Hairline cracks in olive wood

[Edmundco]

I have just turned some olive wood for the first time and produced a very nice tealight holder that I was very pleased with. However, after a few days, the piece has developed hairline cracks that spoil the appearance completely. I turned the piece from a seasoned blank and I finished it with a couple of coats of finishing oil. Any ideas about what is causing the cracking?

I am very disappointed as I was really pleased with the initial result

 

[Andrewf]

I have loads of olive and as it dries out it keeps moving and sometimes numerous cracks appear. Even very dry pieces move once they have been turned. Infact some pieces never seem to dry out completely. I either just leave them or sometimes fill them with coloured and thickened epoxy.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You didn't overheat it sanding it, did you? That sometimes causes surface checking.

 

[nev]

Its not just the moisture levels changing that can cause a wood to crack or warp. as you remove more wood you relieve the stresses and strains holding the remaining fibres in place resulting in movement, warps or cracks, even with a 'dry' bit of timber thats been sat on the shelf for ten years (including the shop bought 'seasoned' blanks). Thats why the patient turners (not me :evil: ) rough turn to oversize and put it back on the shelf for a few more months, then return it to lathe once it has 'relaxed'.
Some woods are worse than others for moving and cracking, and i think olive is one of the trickier ones.

 

[Andrewf]

As can be seen from these blanks there are plenty of cracks, which are stress related as I think the whole trunk had them when I cut them up.

In this bowl you can just make out some more cracks that have appeared since it was turned a couple of months ago.

Have tried the rough turning, but didn't really work as the item moved all over the place and was still very damp under the surface.Even after several months.

 

[carlb40]

As can be seen from these blanks there are plenty of cracks, which are stress related as I think the whole trunk had them when I cut them up.


In this bowl you can just make out some more cracks that have appeared since it was turned a couple of months ago.

Have tried the rough turning, but didn't really work as the item moved all over the place and was still very damp under the surface.Even after several months.

How do you stop your cornflakes falling out of that? :mrgreen:

 

[Racers]

Use Clotted cream ;-)

Pete

 

[Edmundco]

Thanks to everyone for their inputs. It looks like cracking is common in olive and I shall just have to live with it. I may leave the piece for a while and then if the cracking gets really bad I may try try to fill the cracks and sand it again - is this worth the effort or will I just be fighting a loosing battle?

Shame really as olive is one of my favourite woods.