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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/preventing cracking in carvings

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Expert: - 2/1/2008


Question
i recently returned from africa,and all the wod carvings and bowls have begun to crack due to the change in humidity,i aplied and oil to them but it has done little to help,they are made mostly of rose wood and ebony,is there a good sealer to use and what should i use to remove any oil residue before sealing them?

Answer
Hi, first thing to do is to put them into a humid part of your home, basement or garage and let them sit for a few months.  The cracking may lessen once they have been given time to acclimate.  Once they have stabilized then you must assess them.   the cracks may just add character to the carvings and bowls.  Fixing the cracks is another matter altogether.  Only an accomplished craftsman or carver should be trusted to do repairs.  Wood will have to be matched and inserted and care taken to minimize any future cracking.  The best finish will then be either boiled linseed oil or tung oil.  Do not finish them until the woods have fully stabilized or you will trap moisture which may lead to warping as well as more cracking.  Thanks for a great question.

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maura macaluso

Expertise

I can answer most questions, regarding, wood sculpture, wood carving, carving tools and accessories and different types of woods.I am not an appraiser of carvings nor an antique dealer.

Experience

I do full design work, custom carving, restoration, fabrication, repair and refinishing. I can take a piece of raw wood and turn it into a work of art and I can help you do the same. I am "the" carving instructor for the new york city parks dept. I am heavily involved in carving on the internet and belong to many, many mail lists which are quite active. I am also an international promoter of woodcarving and am affiliated with many master carvers, notably nora hall, originally from holland, now in the U.S. and kalina pavlova, a bulgarian master carver. I routinely communicate with the top names in professional woodcarving nationally and internationally.

Organizations
the national association of woodcarvers. the woodcarvers of queens NY, the staten island woodcarvers. the northeast woodcarving association. the world wide carving internet list

Publications
chip chats-the national magazine of woodcarving. also at www.carvinginnyc.com

Education/Credentials
Self taught artist and sculptor, 40 years of drawing and painting as a hobby, 5 years of serious woodsculpting. I have my own website and have written a 300 pg book on carving. I have published online tutorials and pictorial projects

Awards and Honors
many first place awards

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