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I was bending wood yesterday on my hot pipe when I heard a loud snap/pop sound come from somewhere close by. That was followed about 10 seconds later by another one. It sounded a bit like the sharp pop sound an electrical discharge can make but I didn't smell smoke. Then I noticed the crack in the wood base of the hot pipe.

Anyone here dealt with something like this? The crack doesn't close up at all under clamping. It doesn't move one bit. I'm thinking of gluing a piece of wood cross grain over the crack like a big cleat to stabilize it. What do you think?

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Mine is the same unit you have, and so far I've had zero problems with it.

I think your idea of glueing on a crossgrain piece would be fine. If it was mine, I'd likely pull the thermostat, disconnect the cord, flatten that side on your sander, glue up a 1/4" piece of Baltic birch, drill a new hole for the cord and reassemble.

I'm headed to California... wish me luck.

Best, M

It doesn't look like it would affect the function of the unit. I would probably just fill the crack with epoxy or put it on "ignore".

Get crafty, clamp, inlay a butterfly key.

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

Make Nakashima san proud!

Michael's suggestion is a good one, but Brian's suggestion has me thinking. It might just happen.

Clay - I could just leave it but it's on the side that I work from the most. I'm a bit concerned that the crack might get worse because I tend to apply pressure from that side. Right now, the crack goes nearly a quarter of the way through the block.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

A butterfly cleat would be kind of cool. I knew a sawyer who used to find and cut the planks George Nakashima used in his furniture pieces. That was the first place I saw butterfly cleats used.

What about cutting a new block? It’s just wood with holes.

Cool ideas but it's a tool, I would probably just drill it and shoot 3" deck screws in it from both sides. Guess I'm a neanderthal.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"