First Post, Past Mistake - Split oak

[The Shark]

Hello everyone and thanks for having me!

I have tried searching on oak and split oak, and with over 900 hits haven't got time to read all, so if this subject has come up before, I apologise.

4 years ago I made a tv cabinet out of prime grade, kiln dried oak, 4x1 PAR. The oak was aclimatised in the lounge for a month or so prior to construction, and has been kept in the lounge ever since completion. The lounge is centrally heated.

About a week ago, one of the pieces of oak at the edge of one of the side panels developed a sizeable shake, about 100mm long by 2mm at the widest point.

My question is: is this normal for oak to split after such a time (adding character as her indoors says), or have I done something wrong?

 

[DaveL]

Hi Shark,

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear of your oak problems, I have not built any thing large with oak, but its does seem odd to have happened after such a long time. Has there been any change to the heating or windows in the room, has the cabinet been moved? Is the shake on a long grain cross grain joint on the cabinet? Any chance of posting a picture of the cabinet and the offending shake?

 

[PowerTool]

Hi there and welcome

Any chance of reducing the size of your avatar :?:

Currently takes up half the screen (but still a very nice picture :wink: )

Andrew

 

[Noel]

Hi Shark, welcome to the forum. Maybe a dutchman or two to try and stop the spilt getting any worse?

Rgds

Noel

PS, any chance of reducing your avatar? Say 90 x 90 or there abouts? Cheers.

 

[syntec4]

Hi Shark,
Welcome!

Posting a picture of the problem would be great if you could. We like pictures round here :wink:

PS My avatar was little large to start with also. I soon changed it after some ribbing Nice Picture though.

Cheers
Lee.

 

[The Shark]

Thanks everyone for the observations on the avatar - I thought I was doing so well as yesterday I hadn't heard of an avatar!!

DaveL, thanks for the comments, in response:

There has been no change to the heating or windows, the cabinet has not been moved, and the shake is not on a join at all but half way along one of the 4x1 pieces.

I'm afraid that my computer skills aren't up to much, so a picture may be some time coming, but I'll try.

 

[Nick W]

You say it's a TV cabinet. Is the TV inside? If so how much heat does it chuck out when on? You might have built yourslef an inside-out kiln there

 

[Bean]

Hi Shark, Welcome aboard.
Nice to have aother local (almost) Im just north of Leicester


Bean

 

[Waka]

Shark

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Chris Knight]

Shark,

I suspect it might have something to do with the method of construction - was there any kind of batten or rail glued or screwed across the grain?

 

[The Shark]

Thank you all for your messages of welcome.

Nick W: the cabinet now actually holds a hi-fi so I don't think internal heat is a problem.

Waterhead37: I think you may have the answer. The side panel is made up of pieces with the grain running vertically. On the inside of the panel, at the top,running horizontally across the grain, is screwed an oak batten which is used to screw through to attach the top.
The shake is at the top of the panel, directly where the batten is, and it runs vertically. I hadn't heard of slotted screw holes when I made it!

I don't understand why it has taken 4 years to split though

 

[PowerTool]

And don't give up on the idea of pictures and avatars - your avatar picture just needs resizing then you can put it back in.(It's a nice picture,don't hide it..)
Look here for good instructions on posting pictures (if you haven't read it already :wink: )

I'd never posted pictures before joining this forum,so read the instructions,opted for Photobucket,and am almost getting the hang of it now

Andrew

 

[Jaco]

We had similar problem on Oak sideboard door.
Raised panel door, developed "crack" on one side of the panel, 6 months after getting it. Factory replaced the door, could not provide reason for crack.
20 years later no further problems.
Phil