Tree slice table tops

[rikmono]

Hello everybody!
I just joined and this is my 1st post.
I am not an experienced woodworker but have been making reclaimed wood furniture recently. I managed a huge log home from a local forest a while ago and have been slicing various widths off it to make little tables for friends. They all split from the edge towards the centre, usually 1 big split. I don't mind too much as the stuff I make is prety rough and rustic but if anyone has any tips to reduce it I'd appreciate it! I have googles and read a bit about wood splitting so I understand it will happen but I thought there might be some sneaky tricks of the trade

On my 8th cut through the log some treasure appeared!! Are these just knots or sap or what?? I like em!!

 

[adidat]

Not much you can do about the splitting, maybe wrapping banding around the edge might stop it slightly but it's going to happen, the picture you asking about are all knots, knots are branches coming out of the tree. All branches originate from the centre of the the tree (pith)

Welcome along BTW!!

Adidat

 

[acewoodturner]

That looks a bit like douglas fir to me. Anyway as said before it will 99 times out of 100 end up splitting. One way to try and minimise it is to drill a large hole in the pith of about min of 50mm diameter. This may not always be in the centre of the log though. You can always plug this later when the wood is dry if you have to.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Welcome.

A green woodworker's rule of thumb is that wood will typically shrink 10% circumferentially and 5% radially as it dries - which is why you get the radial splits. And presumably why you don't see much furniture made this way. I learned this the hard way thinking that some disks of natural edged oak might make nice coasters. Not a chance of them staying intact once you stand a hot drink on them !

I wonder of there is any method - perhaps owing more to archeological conservation than woodwork - of treating the wood with something to slowly replace the water without it shrinking or cracking. Perhaps over the top though.

 

[johnwc812]

Hi,
If it is a long term project it would be possible to cut the tops into four quarters. Allow months to dry out and season. Then plane the cut edges and glue back together. The annual rings should match up pretty well!
Cheers John