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Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

In slabs, it’s customary to stabilize cracks with either butterfly keys or full-pour epoxy. I don’t know anyone who uses both. Sort of like wearing a belt and suspenders, lol.

To answer your question, slow cure epoxy has a tenacious grip and seeps well into the surrounding grain, especially spalted areas. In my experience, epoxy is the most effective way to stabilize large cracks. That said, It’s also expensive and tricky, so I often opt for butterfly keys. I love the aesthetic, and have found them to be an excellent technique in my shop.

Cheers,
Dorsey

When I said casting epoxy resin, I was referring to pouring a 2 part resin over the entire surface filling in all the cracks. It has a stress mark down the center part of which goes all the way threw. Spalt has softened the wood a little some areas much worse than others. It’s an extremely beautiful piece. Definitely worth the challenge.

Dear Nash,

Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-

Really need more info. Although they say casting the finish, my guess is they mean just a heaving two part epoxy coat on the surface, not pouring over the entire surface and filling the cracks. That being said, I don’t know if resin will or won’t stabilize cracks, or of there’s a chance for the butterflies to later telegraph through epoxy. I haven’t seen any expansion/contraction issues with butterflies causing them to lose flush with the surface. It’s hard to say what effect the casting resin might have but in general I would follow the author’s advice and go with thicker butterflies.

Sincerely,

George
Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership

Hi Thomas. I would not suggest using clamps to pull it in as this will put stress on it and it is likely to crack again in a different spot. I would use epoxy if you want to fill in the crack. If you want to just glue a butterfly joint I would use TB3.
Thanks
Paul-WWGOA