Grain pattern in English oak

[Rob D]

Evening all
I’ve just milled up some English oak that I’ve had air drying for a couple of years.
I’m not very familiar with these grain patterns on oak, could someone enlighten me as to what’s going on here? Is it a defect I should be worried about? this timber is being used to build an outdoor bench.
The one picture is of a small crack across a knot, what would be the best way to fill this, Epoxy? (again with use as an outdoor bench in mind)

 

[Stigmorgan]

Looks exactly like the Common/English Oak I've worked with, all felled and harvested on site here.

 

[niall Y]

This is what is usually known as pippy oak.

 

[Rob D]

First time working with pippy oak, looking online it seems I should be looking to fill these very small voids that come with pippy oak, what’s the best product to do the filling for exterior use?

 

[Eshmiel]

You can fill the crack in a live knot to improve the look but as long as the knot is a live one (not loose in the surrounding wood) it's unlikely to be a weak spot.

The traditional filling for such blemish is Beaumontage, which is a mixture of wax and shellac, coming in small sticks of various colours that can easily melted (with a low temperature) into the crack then sanded smooth when cold/hard once more. Epoxy might do it but its messy stuff and perhaps harder to colour-match. Liberon used to do a 10-pack of different colours but I can only find 3-packs just now, with different 3-packs of various shades.

https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/liberon-shellac-filler-sticks?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=liberon&utm_content=Liberon+(Dynamic)&utm_campaign=-+2.+Dynamic+Search

Here's a pic of a tabletop I made in very knotty oak that's been filled with a contrasting beaumontage (to match the colour of the knots rather than the surrounding oak).

 

[Puggers]

@Rob D I'm working with some pippy oak (cat's paw) now on a small bookcase my wife would like for the dining room - it's to compliment a larger counter top which displays some of her breakfast pottery from Emma Bridgewater.

Here's a couple of photos in which I've tried to show the voids which I filled with Morrells' black two-part wood filler. I have used black Milliput before but found the former easier to work with in terms of mixing it. Both require a lot of sanding/scraping afterwards before finishing.

The Morrells can be used for exterior application too.

I've also used thick black CA glue for smaller voids.

The top of the case I'm working on now is stunning but as yet unfinished but I can post an in-progress photo if it would help.

Good luck with your build.

Dave

 

[Cabinetman]

@Rob D I'm working with some pippy oak (cat's paw) now on a small bookcase my wife would like for the dining room - it's to compliment a larger counter top which displays some of her breakfast pottery from Emma Bridgewater.

Here's a couple of photos in which I've tried to show the voids which I filled with Morrells' black two-part wood filler. I have used black Milliput before but found the former easier to work with in terms of mixing it. Both require a lot of sanding/scraping afterwards before finishing.

The Morrells can be used for exterior application too.View attachment 198895View attachment 198896View attachment 198897

I've also used thick black CA glue for smaller voids.

The top of the case I'm working on now is stunning but as yet unfinished but I can post an in-progress photo if it would help.

Good luck with your build.

Dave

Yes this is the Pippy Oak I recognise not sure about the timber in question though.
Reminds me of Sapwood or wood from branches?

 

[Sgian Dubh]

First time working with pippy oak, looking online it seems I should be looking to fill these very small voids that come with pippy oak, what’s the best product to do the filling for exterior use?

Filling those small pippy holes in the oak for an exterior bench is pointless really. I almost certainly also wouldn't bother attempting to fill the cracks around the knot for the end use you describe, but if you feel you must others have already supplied ideas (none of which I consider useful for your circumstances, as you may have gathered, ha, ha). Slainte.

 

[Yojevol]

@Rob D Rob, I've got a number wax blocks which you're welcome to have a play with. You can mix the colours when the wax is molten to get something you're happy with.In this particular case you need something as dark as possible to make it look natural. Call round sometime.
Brian

 

[HOJ]

I'm inclined to suggest you keep the pippy oak for a piece of interior furniture rather than an outside bench where it's desirable properties will be completely lost in time, if you do use it for your intended purposes, I don't see the point of filling any knots or pip holes, UV and the weather will soon have an effect.

As an aside, If you went to a mill and asked for pippy oak over 1stQ Oak you would probably pay 25% more, and against rustic oak, you would be paying 60% more for the pippy.

 

[XTiffy]

For the use planned, I would mix earth pigments in a two part filler (available in "oak" colour) to get the required final colour before adding the hardener.
For the small amount of the mix required art pigments are available in small quantities. The final result can be sanded down quite easily.
The photos you have posted show quite a wide band of sapwood, which will not fare well outside!