cracked wood, unusable?

[Mr M]

I bought an ash lumber to use as body on future basses. Air-dried but was kept in a cold storage recently. I had it cut in 3 pieces and put in my flat with heating system (stupid me ). I was planning to put paraffin on cut sides but had other things to do etc.. After just 2 days, I discovered that one of the lumber is seriously cracked
My question is, is there any way to use it as body? I may fill the crack with wood glue and wood dust mixture but I'm not sure if it is worth to do so. Unfortunately the crack is at the middle going all the way lengthwise so if I cut that part, the remaining part won't be usable as a body. Or would it be unstable.
BTW I've applied paraffin to all the cut side of lumber but it is too late.
I'd like to hear from experienced people what to do. Thanks...

[black_labb]

cut it out and glue in a contrasting timber down the middle is what i would do

[hover]

can you get it to crack the whole way through? If it's a clean break just reglue the entire joint and clamp solid, cure and then use it. I wouldn't just try to fill in the crack as is with any glue wicked in, as it would tend to continue cracking anyway.

I had to do this on a completed Koa strat body once, stable as hell after I was done. It now has an oil finish, and still looks good to this day.

Good luck.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I'd go with black labbs way, that's what cabinet and furniture builders usually do in a situation like that. With or without a contrasting piece.

While splitting the plank and regluing it may work, it also may not, depending of the grain orientation, different densities etc. Safer to saw the plank in half, join the two sides perfectly and reglue.

This all is assuming that the crack is a thin one. If it's a wide one, it's likely that the plank is just too unstable to be used as a one piece.

Regards
Sam

[Larry Davis]

Got a photo of the problem? Clarification will be of great help in seeking specific repair options.

[hover]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

While splitting the plank and regluing it may work, it also may not, depending of the grain orientation, different densities etc.

Of course, which is why I was asking how the break / crack was, and if it would break clean...I mean what's the harm? It's cracking anyway. That said, it does work, dependent on the crack. It certainly works better than trying to work in a slurry of glue and relying on capillary action...entirely more unstable. Worst case, cut along the offending crack and use the halves as wings with a new center core wood, if possible, but of course that depends on the width of the plank.

[vbasscustom]

yeah, well, if you got enough ash, table saw each side of the crack, and glue in another peice of ash. make it a 3 peice body blank

[Mr M]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll try to take a picture and post, but probably not in a short time. I had an accident and had my right ankle cracked (what a coincidence!). I'll try to fix first my ankle bone crack and proceed to ash

[Mr M]

Here are some pictures. Now it is even worse, the crack widened and went deeper. I may try to cut on the crack line and glue it to the other side as suggested but I think it is not usable anymore as a bass body . I'll try to use it in another project.

[RustyAxe]

You really wouldn't want to make the body out of single slab of wood. I would first get a grip on the humidity until it has a reasonable moisture content. Then I'd cut the cracked section out, preserving as much of the wood as possible. Then using what's left, and perhaps another piece of contrasting wood edge join the pieces. Finally thickness plane (or sand) before cutting the rough body blank.

Edit -- Ooops ... I didn't see the pics you posted until after I posted this. It still applies though. I think the wood you bought wasn't properly seasoned if it checked that much.