It’s always very impressive to see the amount of patience it takes to do this kind of work with hand tools

What an amazing video to watch. I am só envious of your skills!

A year after you posted this and it was a fix I was looking for. Thank you

thank you for speaking slowly and clearly so I can understand English.

@integr8er66

2 жыл бұрын

That is so funny, I played it at 2x speed and would have liked 2.5x

thnx, well done. I'm gonna try it.

trimming back things like that key are the perfect reason to drag out the multitool my wife bought me one year. only thing i have found it useful for lol

Pretty cool. Nice job.

Superb mate, thank you. 😎🇬🇧💪

Very good Chad! Thank you.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Robert. I appreciate you watching and taking the time to comment

As useful as lovely method to stop the cracks. Sometimes, the old methods are always the better ones. Chad, I'd like to know the sizes of a dovetail key ( H, W, L ) one should use in proportion to the/a board. Thanks and all my best. Giuliano, Italy.

Yeah, Chad! Bonus points for setting your audio levels perfect between music & voice. No need to turn down blaring rock music between voice segments--hooray! As always, great video with valuable info. Everybody could learn a thing or three from you ;-) Best, @HoneyOnWales

Have you tried as an alternative to use a oscillating tool to clean up the edges? I'm seeing the introduction of an oscillating tool for assorted applications in detailed work and thought I'd ask.

Okey simple and nice

I've seen this before but I didnt understand why til now, thanks lol

Nice video. Always appreciate the bowtie inlays!

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Bennett for taking the time to watch and to comment

Just say no to crack......good vid. My noob self cut down a tree planed my wood started building...everything looked beautiful till next morning.......crack city

Nice thanks Chad

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching Ken

In 2013 I cut 5 slabs 5 inches thick for a friend from a freshly fallen sycamore. Sycamore is notorious for going its own way as it dries, especially if it is slabbed thin as it dries, hence the reason for the slabs being so thick. The fellow I slabbed this for used a brace and very auger long bit to auger threw from side to side then drove 1" dowels into the auger holes. After which he slathered on many coats of latex paint. In the spring of 2019 he started breaking down one of the slabs, end cracks were non existent and the slabs had not cupped, there was minimal twist. He said that is how his grandfather had done it for years.

@pimc172

2 жыл бұрын

So basically the dowel is across the grain (radial would be a better term I guess; not sure) and then you seal only the ends ?

THANKS CHAD!

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Mike!

HI I like the video and details for repair break wood best regards

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

Thanks chad that helps

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Glad to do my part.

What would be the minimum thickness you would use this on? Thanks in advance.

Aren't they called shakes? The finished key looks very rustic and appealing too. iGreat vid.

Thanks Chad. Here is a question. Can we try this on a cracked bamboo pole. I know it's not straight forward, because bamboo would have a curved surface; but is it possible to cut a curved depth cut some how. If so, then a curved bamboo butterfly piece can be fitted in to it. What do you think?

Wow !! Nice

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much

Thanks. I learned something new today. What would you use to fill in the cracks?

Excellent demonstration video Chad. Thanks.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Don my friend, as always thank you for your support. Hope you are doing well

@wb_finewoodworking

5 жыл бұрын

Chad Stanton I’m doing well. Thanks for your comment. Hope all is well with you and your family.

That was interesting

Looked like a perfect fit.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Honestly it was a good fit, but the second one came out better. All in all, it will stop the checking

Oh yeah!!

Thank you Chad that was very informative and useful. Here is a question. How to cut holes, say2 3/8 inches, without buying the expensive Fostner bits? Thanks

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

A hole saw bit can do that. And it's rather inexpensive

Terrific, but what if the cracking runs on the horizontal and not the vertical?

Thanks for this tip! I just got some old growth 8/4 white oak boards which I’m drying (currently has 12-15% moisture). Would this be too wet to add the dove tails?

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

12-15% is normal in my area. I wouldn't expect too much more splitting on your board, but I put them in because a change in season will make it more. It may not get longer, but it will open and close.

Always interesting!! Thank's!!!

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to watch and to comment. It means a lot to me

Very impressive. I make 48cm wooden chesspieces. Out of wet logs. They dry up and crack in my apartment. I'm experimenting with not letting them dry before I apply wood glue on them. Which turns transparent. But if I forget it takes about three days before they crack. Ive herd 'beout ppl wetting minor wooden pieces made for fishing and then painting them. Then put hooks on them. I guess oil might prevent the endgrain from drying so fast. It appears to me as if the watersoluable wood glue can be applied after the oil. The wood simply consumes so much fluid.

I've been looking to buy a Kung Fu wooden dummy and cracking of the wooden post seems to be a big problem with some of them. I'm not sure what they coat that center wooden post with but could keeping that main body "oiled" reduce or eliminate that cracking. Moisture (water) evaporates quicker than a linseed oil so would that help prevent cracking?

At least we have a fix for the cracks. It's a pain in the proverbial when you get a nice figured board and a crack develops. the Bow ties can add an attractive feature

I work with sections of fresh Branches, usually about 3 in' x 6 in'. (Art). They start splitting a day or two after they've been cut, how would you recommend i store them when I'm not working on them. "Please and thankyou"

Hi there, what about the crack this side of the camera / at the end grain?

I'm thinkin' this may help my brother...he's a plumber..

@AnxiousPorridge

3 жыл бұрын

underrated comment

@bobsmoot5106

2 жыл бұрын

That’s gold, Jerry! GOLD!

But, how do you know it fits!?! I noticed you marked the hole with a PENCIL, not a knife or chisel. I really like your video, and I need a way to stop cracks in my fresh-cut sweet gum panels. They are 1"x20"x22" and if they split, I might as well not have cut them.

Thanks,Chad!!

I am very new to this fun hobby. Let's say I was making a table top out of one massive slab of wood and it had no cracks yet. What if I was to inlay some massive bowties that stretched across the width of the slab (on the underside of course) every foot or so down the length of it? Or inlay and screw steel plates in a similar manner. Or, if the table is deep enough, run a metal band around the outside edge (like a ring on a finger) if it looked cool. This obviously would do nothing for preventing cracks from forming on the top, but would it prevent future cracks from beginning anywhere on the bottom? Thanks for the great video!

@ChadStanton

4 жыл бұрын

The cracks form as a result of the moisture content in the wood. The moisture content will always fluctuate depending on the humidity. However, ultimately it will even out. idea moisture content is between 6-9% yet anything under 15%, in my opinion, will be adequate for a tabletop and should not crack anymore

Nice tip. You forgot to mention that grain direction of the key is across the grain of the board.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Excellent point. Thank you

Shouldn't the butterfly be a bit shorter than the mortise? If the would continues to shrink it will induce extra stress and possibly new cracks will start.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

I wanted the key below the crack the crack was deepest on the end. Where i routed at i was down to solid wood again.

May IO ask what do you use to protect a finished wood carving, so it will not get cracks?

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

Anchor seal 2 can be applied to the end grain to help seal the wood from absorbing more moisture. I've also used shellac and primer. Just depends on the project.

I had a piece of black walnut cut 13" x 36" x 1.25" for a counter top on a small cabinet. Within a couple of days it started splitting. if I oil it will it close up. I was going to put polyurethane on it but was afraid to after it started spliting.

@ChadStanton

3 ай бұрын

Unfortunately in my experience it will not close up with oil on it. It probably wasn’t completely dry when it was cut and milled. The moisture leaving made it shrink and crack. Try to make the crack a feature and not a flaw.

I bought new lumber to make my tabletop and I don't feel comfortable to chisel and router out a butterfly hole. What are my options as a beginner and do I necessary have to do anything to my wood prior to crafting? thanks

@sandergejl

3 жыл бұрын

Hey, You could use epoxy to fill out cracks as well, as it stabilizes the wood. Just make sure you don't pour the epoxy "through" the crack if it has an opening on the bottom. Make sure there are no leaks with lots of electrical tape, for example. Assuming your lumber is dry for furniture, you would need to plane your boards to the same thickness and joint the edges if you're gluing multiple boards together. Hope this helps!

Would you tighten down some clamps across the piece to keep it from being able to spread and crack?

Hi Chad If I have a piece of wood which isn't cracked yet and I put some varnish on it. That will protect my product from cracking?

@ChadStanton

Жыл бұрын

It will help. Depending on the moisture in the wood is what will cause it to crack as it dries. If you are under 14% I believe you will be safe.

@Dracouto5972

Жыл бұрын

@@ChadStanton Thanks a lot. You're great ☺

Save your money on sealing products, they are expensive and they do not stop cracking. Sometimes they may reduce it a little bit but usually there is no noticeable difference from untreated logs/boards.

is this tie on the to-be-top side or is it ok to keep that underneath? good info though, cheers!

@ChadStanton

Жыл бұрын

Good question. Historically it was hidden underneath. But today many people will show it as a feature. So whichever you prefer. Thanks for watching

What about a 1 inch thick board with a crack?

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

I use dovetail keys on any size board

Did you test fit the butterfly at all before you glued it? I could just see myself having a non-fitting butterfly, now coated with glue... Did you not seal the end grain because you wanted to get a split so you could make this video? If you think the wood isn't dry, you should just throw something on there. Even latex paint will work.

If I used the butterfly technique I also would fill the cracks with fine sawdust and glue afterwards, but sometime later. The butterfly looks so unnatural with the grain of the wood.

nice boards chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

sound advice... how would you think about making those butterflies out of metal and maybe screwing them on ? although I doubt it, it could work... whaddya say ? :-/

@MarcosElMalo2

3 жыл бұрын

And how do you work on the piece afterwards?

@ssao0000

Жыл бұрын

@@MarcosElMalo2 change the cutting edge of of the planer from 25 to 70 degrees, lol

Chad - will you use any epoxy or super glue on the remaining part of the crack.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

On the bottom side, no. But i will on the top to fill the void to make it smooth

Walker Industries with multiple facilities in the USA and Canada have Aqua Seal at less than half the cost of Anchor Seal. 1 gallon, 5 gallon, 55 gallon, tanker car, cheaper the larger lot. I picked up 2 5 gallon buckets today. I formerly saw Associated Chemists in threads, now Walker Industries, @t .

Why didn't you place the dove tail key a bit closer to the edge?

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

I typically try to put the dovetail key in the middle of the crack

So all cracks have to have this or they may crack with time?

@ChadStanton

4 жыл бұрын

If the wood has a high moisture content, as it dries it will crack. Once the majority of the moisture is gone, it will not split anymore.

Without the butterfly you could use the wood right uo to the crack. Now you probably throw out and waste the wood with the butterfly unless your plan is to build something rustic?

Sweet.... What’s going on with Safety Dan?

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

I moved and he can not make the time to visit for the show.

just put a nice coat of linseed oil on the outer 5 inches of that plank.

@jdwilsun

3 жыл бұрын

Mineral oil will close cracks.

So what about preemptive dovetail butterflies? Just place them at the end of boards before the checks even show up.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

One of those products, (paint, wax or anchorseal) can prevent them getting cracks. But the more dense the wood species, the more shrinkage will occur. So some checking or cracks are unavoidable.

Screw them up together with bolts.

i've seen where people have hammered in these Z shaped clips to hold stuff like that together

will the stress move to expansion outside of bowtie?

@ChadStanton

Жыл бұрын

Great question. It will cause the whole board to expand the full width of the board. If the board can’t expand a different weak spot and crack will occur.

Dear Chad, I wonder IF I press the sides to force the crack to 'close' and just then dig the hole for the tie, will make a better looking job. Any thoughts? Many thanks.

@brianwilkinson4653

3 жыл бұрын

I think you are correct i do believe it would help make the crack disappear

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

If you are lucky enough to get enough force to close it and put a key in that is best. But in my case, that wasn't going to happen

@bengrogan9710

Жыл бұрын

it is worth a try but is unlikely - remember old civilizations used wood wedges like this to crack boulders thanks to the expansion and contraction being so strong

1:10 It's not drying out because air is going into the end grain. It's drying out because moisture is coming out. If the moisture does not go out, air would not be able to get in.

I think I would have tried a little different procedure or approach. I would have drilled a hole through the board across grain from the side edges, centered, This would be to accept a threaded screw, Then counter sink a hole where I could put the nuts an washers on to tighten this piece, You might have even closed these cracks, Then one could put plugs over the remaining holes instead of having that ugly piece of butterfly wood showing on the top. This procedure would apply even pressure on the board an possibly not allowed it to warp, where I think that butterfly may allow this to happen, or even clamping it with very strong clamps, not the usual wood working clamps as mentioned below.

@Reginaldesq

5 жыл бұрын

Seems like a good idea. I guess it depends on what you are going to use the timber for. For example you might only need one side to look good.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

YOu make a good point. BUt the butterfly was going to be on the bottom side. Sometime i like to have a butterfly showing but on this piece i think it will take away from the beauty of the grain. Thanks for your comment!

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😍😍😍💡💡

Wish we lived close enuff that I could get saftey Dan's old job

Chad, good vid! Do you always use Gorilla Wood glue? If you have a glue video point me there.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

I do prefer it, but i also use Titebond as well

Thank you Chad, really helpful for a(74 year old) noob like me

This might stop them in their Cracks instead of tracks lol

Yeah but how do we stop cracks from forming to start with.

@GoLongAmerica

Жыл бұрын

A good way to prevent cracks from forming in wood is predrilling.

how about closing the crack?

Bowties. That's how I know them, but I guess butterfly works too. I'd rather go epoxy though, I hate the look of bowties. I'd rather just seal coat clear, then pour into it and sand it to whatever luster I want.

@ChadStanton

Жыл бұрын

I understand your point. In traditional furniture the butterfly was put on the bottom to be out of sight. Unfortunately epoxy will fill the crack but it will not stop it from cracking more. The butterfly will.

When does it take 2 minutes and 40 seconds to get to the point?

@ChadStanton

5 күн бұрын

Oh I forgot to tell you. At 2 minutes 40 seconds you get the point. 😁 Thanks for watching.

Cartoon face guy 🤣

Hi Chad, the cracks are beautiful but they walk without asking permission 😂😂

Also known as a bowtie or Dutchman.

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

Dutchman. That's a new one for me. Thank you

Ya. That's not what I wanted to hear. Ya, I know about butterflies. I thought you had some magic potion. Disappointed but you have a good day RC

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

I can appreciate your point. YOu have a good day too. Thank you

But where is safety Dan?

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

He hasn't been in the show for almost a year. I moved and he's across town. But he is doing well. I'll tell him you said "hey"

I was expecting more wood & cracks jokes...

@Patrick33194

4 жыл бұрын

That wood have been nice.. they always crack me up

Come on dude there's 1 million of these videos on here!!!!

One trick I have seen for a tight looking dovetail key is to mushroom it with a hammer before planing it all the way down. This fills in the tiny gaps left by slightly less than perfect chiseling.

Greetings from Russia!!!🇷🇺

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

HELLO Russia! Thanks for watching

Began watching, but this would not help me with a whole hemlock shed

stop those cracks in their tracks....... funny very funny, can't stop laughing.. ho ho ho ho lol lol lol ..

The board cracks from the ends because of cellular orientation of the wood, and water evaporates from open cell pores faster than across cell walls; NOT because the end of the board is coarse.

@charlesmurphy5088

3 жыл бұрын

He said pores not coarse.

Not to knock the technique... i just dont think this is a viable option to fix my porch and steps that are cracking

@seltzinator

3 жыл бұрын

Keep us posted on that chief.

@HolyDiver79

3 жыл бұрын

Dunparrow ok so i used a pump up spray bottle and some Thompson’s water seal and sprayed the bejesus out of it.... stopped all the crackin

Crack is whack

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

Hahahaha

Crack is bad mkay

The creepiest guy on KZread. He sounds like an aquaphibian from Stingray ......

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

Wait until you hear me sing :-)

@KevinBower-gy5be

5 жыл бұрын

@@ChadStanton no offence intended, buddy. Your butterfly crack fix is absolutely great. Greetings from over the pond.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

@@KevinBower-gy5be Thank you Kevin. Honestly I hate hearing my own voice. Now i know others do too. Hahaha Have a good day!

@nancywebb6549

5 жыл бұрын

You can turn off the volume. I can figure out his method without hearing him.

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

@@nancywebb6549 That's good to know Nancy. My wife wishes she could do that to me :-)

Butterfly pieces are not a fix. They look like crap in some pieces, better I some species

@ChadStanton

5 жыл бұрын

I can agree with some of what you say, I placed my butterfly keys on the bottom so it doesn't take away from the beauty of the wood. What is the solution then for stopping the cracks form getting bigger is that is not the fix?

@docwade3409

5 жыл бұрын

Not a fix? Can’t wait to hear your solution to the issue. I looked for your videos showing the “correct” way.

not even close to practical...

@ChadStanton

2 жыл бұрын

I can appreciate your difference in opinion. Would you mind telling what you would suggest?

Two and a half minutes to get to the point! Prep a script, edit in half and get to the point of your vid. Drop the goofy stuff (not that cute) use some more screen graphics to move through the supporting observations. With "Wood$Crap" as your sponsor, I won't be subscribing, either! I know you gotta eat, but pointing your viewers to that franchise rip-off should embarrass you.

@martyspargur5281

5 жыл бұрын

S2: Perhaps Chad's area of expertise is more oriented towards sharing woodworking knowledge than it is identifying or alleviating whatever seems to be stressing you out.

@wboquist

5 жыл бұрын

s2s: Leaving comments that identify you as a died-in-the-wool rectum should embarrass *you*. If you're so wise, make a better video as an example to others.