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I was out in the shop, carving a neck out of some beautiful cherry. Admiring all of the pretty wood and how easily it works, it didnt take me long for the chunk of wood to begin to look and feel like a good neck.

While sanding the radius in the heel on my neck, I felt something that felt like I had bumped into something. After looking at what happened, I cant believe it!

Check it out and see if you spot the problem?

Looks like I have to start over with another blank.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Checks and pitch pockets are an issue with cherry, and that piece is about 45 degrees off quartered...or flatsawn.   

Time to think seriously about making laminated necks, Ken. It's much easier to control the quality of the wood, the grain, and the figure, and the added labor pays off.

I cut into a mandolin neck blank a week ago and found a huge pitch pocket in the same spot as your check. Happens.....

If the rest of the neck is still good, make up a laminated heel.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Doug, the 3rd photo shows the check going into the shank. It's a safe bet it goes further, also.

Junked.

Yeah, it probably does.  Its hard to tell from the photo, it kind of looks like there's still some meat left for carving.

The work to fix it right will probably exceed its value.  Start over, get it right, and know that its right.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/