Oak mantle

[Rig Pig]

Well I have finally started working on the mantle for my extension, luckily my mite saw was just big enough to cut it, I didn't fancy trying to do it by hand!

I've been looking at live edge tables on YouTube so I'm going to fill the splits with resin, hopefully the wood has a nice bit of character, at the moment it's in bandsaw cut finish!

 

[Rig Pig]

And a coat of resin later

Very pleased with the look so far, it took a huge amount of resin to fill the splits.

 

[brightspark]

thought it was your batten for working on at 1st

 

[julianf]

I would caution you about trying to make it too perfect right now.

If it's to go above s fireplace, I suspect there is a significant chance of the splits widening / extra splits appearing during the first 6 months or so.

 

[steviec_lj]

Green oak, dries at about an inch a year.

It’ll shrink, twist, crack and split in the next 8-10 months. As above too, if it’s above a fireplace it’ll go on for at least another 6 months if you air dry it now.

Kiln dried has its uses, this would be one..

 

[Rig Pig]

It won't matter if it moves and splits a bit more once it's in place, I can soon fill it up again but it's got to be on the wall for the start of next month as the plastering starts then!

 

[Rig Pig]

thought it was your batten for working on at 1st

It's 8" across so it would be a fair size batten!

 

[brightspark]

It won't matter if it moves and splits a bit more once it's in place, I can soon fill it up again but it's got to be on the wall for the start of next month as the plastering starts then!

make sure its covered up when plastering. it will make the wood go black and stain it

 

[Rig Pig]

make sure its covered up when plastering. it will make the wood go black and stain it

Cheers for the tip, I know steel stains it but I didn't know plaster did too!

 

[angellonewolf]

Ask the plaster to edge bead round the wood or when the wood as when it moves and twists you will have lots of cracking you will constant fill it

 

[Rig Pig]

Ask the plaster to edge bead round the wood or when the wood as when it moves and twists you will have lots of cracking you will constant fill it

Cheers I will do that

 

[addjunkie]

Ask the plaster to edge bead round the wood or when the wood as when it moves and twists you will have lots of cracking you will constant fill it

I didnt and am now sitting pondering how to fill it. The wood has settled nicely, but the crack irritates me.

 

[jerrytug]

Can I politely suggest, don't resin the cracks any more, at least until it's been in situ for a year or two? The resin is very rigid but the wood will be moving.
Trad linseed oil putty, maybe with extra oil, is ok, it can accept movement

 

[jerrytug]

You could also fill the cracks with splines of oak, and plane them flush.

 

[addjunkie]

used the stain oil for oak kitchen benches, looks nice, even with my irritating crack. Think it has finally stopped moving after 4 years.

 

[Rig Pig]

It's all resin filled now, I will hit it with a belt sander over the next few days and get it mounted on the wall, it was allegedly air dried before I bought it and it's spent the last few months in the insulated shell of my extension with a dehumidifier so hopefully it is fairly dry now. I don't doubt that it will move a bit but I'm planning to Danish oil it on all sides before I fit it to slow and equal out the drying so hopefully it won't go banana shape!

 

[Kent]

If its really well sealed it will be OK on plaster. If.not oak is a nightmare for staining so it's no bad idea to leave it off an extra while if you can
I get this issue on doing staircases with oak

 

[desmo11225]

Hello Every one
Ive just bought a piece of oak, not quite as hefty as yours and got it planed on a four sided planer for £10 , which would save a lot of work ,also all the shakes/splits are on the under side .
That was in Norfolk though, your location is Narrich, where's that????? or is it Norwich , a miss print. All the Best desmo11225

 

[jordan1]

Leave the cracks alone, part of the character

 

[jerrytug]

Leave the cracks alone, part of the character

Totallly agree for indoors furniture.
Not advisable on sailing boat keels