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I started to bend a side and noticed a small crack where there is curl in the wood. I stopped so I would not make things any worse. What is the best way I can fix the crack so it will hold up in the bending process?

Thanks!

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Brad
Avon, OH

I'd try CA.

I've used it with great success while bending (and cracking) EIR bindings. It worked great with Koa as well.

I'd just clamp together and wait a minute or two (their claim of 10 seconds is highly exagerated, unless of course you're gluing your fingers together... then 1/10th of a second seems enough...) and then I'd return to the pipe... Never had a crack come apart.

I forget which titebond has excellent heat properties. I think it's Titebond II.

I've also had good results with the LMI white. I use that to glue laminated purflings to my bindings and it holds up very well to heat.

Then there's also HHG. Once cured, it has excellent heat resistance...

Ah... what was the question again?...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

glue is your only option, and i have used both ca and hhg to good effect.

your post raises some questions though:

did you do a wet inspection for cracks before you started to bend?

the wording of your post sounds as though you were bending on a pipe. if so were you using a metal slat to support the wood as you worked it on the pipe? with figured wood this is usually necessary to have a good chance to avoid cracks in the figure.

Michael...
   I did not wet inspect...sounds like a good idea. I was bending on a bender and just noticed the problem and was at a point where I could stop without causing too many problems. I am using a Doolin style bender and the wood was supported by a metal slats. The wood was Granadillo and has just a few curls. The crack is right were one of the curls was and will probably end up in the waist area...just my luck.

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Brad
Avon, OH

i just give a wipedown with naphta. it flashes off the surface quickly but leaves a wet line in any cracks. a precaution which has saved me more troubles few times.

Thanks, Michael! I would not have thought of that on my own.