Fixing cracked wood carvings is different from preserving wood from cracking, and for those who might be looking for how to fix cracked wood carvings, it is very easy and all you need is to follow some simple steps.
The reason most woods form cracks is the nature of the wood, or not preserving your wood carving properly.
It’s not the case with all carvings but it happens over time. As wood stabilizes to humidity conditions, the outer rings often lose moisture quicker than the inner rings, and this is why at times you may see cracks developing on wood carvings unexpectedly.
To fix cracked wood carvings, you will need sandpaper, wood filler, and wood stain. Make sure you wipe down the carving with a dry cloth and find an open area to work, You will then fill the cracks with wood filler or wood shims. Use sandpaper to smoothen the wood, and stain the whole piece.
I will share with you steps to follow and successfully guide you to fix the crack or cracks on your wood carving.
Steps On How To Fix Cracked Wood Carvings
Find Out What Is Causing The Cracking
To avoid re-fixing cracks on your wood carving you had fixed before, it is very important to figure out what is causing these cracks before repairing them, and most cracks are caused by the wood carving drying too fast.
This problem can be prevented by applying finish the proper way after carving. One of The good qualities of wood is that it can take decades for it to dry, so when applying the sealant to your wood carving, make sure you leave no spot.
Drying too quickly often comes from the environment that the wood you are using to carve is from. The causes are direct sunlight, sudden temperature changes, and extreme heat.
Have all The Materials In Place
Before sanding to fix wood carving, ensure everything you need for the repair is present. Here is the list of what is expected to be present;
Sandpaper( preferably 100-200 grit) Wood Stain Paintbrush wood Filler Palette Knives An apron Dry and clean rugs Gloves and a breathing mask
Steps To Follow When Fixing A Cracked Wood Carving
Clean The Cracked Wood Carving
After sanding the cracked part, wipe your project with a clean the dry cloth to get rid of the dust and the dirt.
Not cleaning the project will make it hard for you to apply the filler and the stain to adhere to the wood later on.
Make sure that the cloth you are using is dry because your wood carving project should never be in contact with water when working on it.
Wood absorbs water so when it gets contact, you will have to wait for it to dry first.
Use Wood Filler
At this stage, you will need a pallet knife and a filler. The pallet knife will help reach the filler towards the center. If you don’t put enough filler to the cracks, there will be spaces left and that will lead to re-repairing the wood carving project again.
FamoWood Latex Wood Filler is used widely because of its quick-drying which speeds up the repair process and is also known to prevent future cracks later on in the drying process.
If you are repairing a big project that has large cracks;
You will need wood shims and glue. One of the reasons that cause large cracks is, direct sunlight. This dries the wood quickly making it shrink at a fast rate causing cracks.
The aim is to mix the wood with the shim and fill it in the large cracks and wait for it to dry.
Nelson Wood Pine Shims Pro Pak is a very good choice to buy when you want to repair large cracks.
Inspect the carving
After the filler in the cracks dries and settles, inspect your projects for any touch-ups you will need to do before proceeding to the next step.
Make sure you have used just enough filler to avoid wastage and if everything is looking good, use a clean dry rag to clean your project.
Sand the Project
In this stage, you will need to smoothen your project with the use of sandpaper and sand the whole piece. Sanding the whole project will give your piece an even texture and ensure that it has one color all through. Sanding also helps in removing stains found in the project.
When sanding, always start from the top heading your way to the bottom to avoid excess dust getting caught in the sandpaper and forcing you to sand over dust.
Make sure that you use either 100 or 200 grit sandpaper to avoid damaging your project.
Varnish the Project
Once you have successfully gone through all those steps, varnishing your project is the last thing you need to do. Varnishing gives uniform color to your project and it will be had to see the repaired parts.
Use a paintbrush to apply the varnish, and for better results, apply thin coats to avoid brush strokes marks after and also to avoid your project looking uneven. Use more than one coat for more protection for you
Conclusion
- Avoid storing your wood carving in extreme heat or cold
- Never store your wood carving in the basement
- Use fresh wood when carving your projects
- Never forget to apply good finish procedure on your wood
- Don’t expose your wood carving to direct sunlight after applying linseed oil