Epoxy resin issue

[Kim Metzger]

My 15" jacaranda bowl blank has a large open crack that goes all the way to the bottom. Covering everything on the bottom with hurricane tape and hoping the resin wouldn't leak out was obviously a big mistake. I'm looking for a way to seal the bottom so the resin won't leak. Any suggestions?

 

[William Rogers]

What little I have done I have always used the heat duct aluminum tape. Is your “hurricane” tape really duck tape? If so I wouldn’t expect it to seal. Not sure the aluminum tape will work, but guessing it’s better than the tape you tried.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

You are braver than me. That bowl would scare the hell out of me. I had a similar one explode on my Stubby. The centrifugal force is just too much even for epoxy. Make sure your medical insurance is up to date before attempting to turn it, I would recommend using it for the fireplace.

 

[Tom Gall]

You are braver than me. That bowl would scare the hell out of me. I had a similar one explode on my Stubby. The centrifugal force is just too much even for epoxy. Make sure your medical insurance is up to date before attempting to turn it, I would recommend using it for the fireplace.

Excellent advice!

 

[Kim Metzger]

What little I have done I have always used the heat duct aluminum tape. Is your “hurricane” tape really duck tape? If so I wouldn’t expect it to seal. Not sure the aluminum tape will work, but guessing it’s better than the tape you tried.

Yes, duct tape.

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

You are braver than me. That bowl would scare the hell out of me. I had a similar one explode on my Stubby. The centrifugal force is just too much even for epoxy. Make sure your medical insurance is up to date before attempting to turn it, I would recommend using it for the fireplace.

Cut it down for smaller bowl blanks, spindles and pens.

EDIT: Kim, it has at least 4 questionable cracks. Did you buy this from a vendor? Unfortunately you tried to glue it up. If this happens again I would check that vendor's return policy and return it. Also, I wouldn't buy from this vendor again. I would cut it down for smaller blanks. It hurts to sacrifice a "perfectly good blank" but this blank isn't good. You're health is more important then a badly cracked blank.

 

[Kim Metzger]

You are braver than me. That bowl would scare the hell out of me. I had a similar one explode on my Stubby. The centrifugal force is just too much even for epoxy. Make sure your medical insurance is up to date before attempting to turn it, I would recommend using it for the fireplace.

Thank you for the warning. I'll probably cut it down a bit. But I can't see cured epoxy resin being affected by the centrifugal force.

 

[Brian Gustin]

I'll vote with Emiliano - Taught myself THAT the hard way. If it cracks that deep. Epoxy just poured in to the crack is not gonna hold it together. (and indeed, Epoxy can have issues with wood that is not completely dry to begin with) Even if it does hold together, it'd eventually fall apart as wood moves and epoxy does not.

 

[Kim Metzger]

Cut it down for smaller bowl blanks, spindles and pens.

EDIT: Kim, it has at least 4 questionable cracks. Did you buy this from a vendor? Unfortunately you tried to glue it up. If this happens again I would check that vendor's return policy and return it. Also, I wouldn't buy from this vendor again. I would cut it down for smaller blanks. It hurts to sacrifice a "perfectly good blank" but this blank isn't good. You're health is more important then a badly cracked blank.

On good advice from fellow members, I'll cut it down a bit. I'm now considering using 5-minute epoxy to seal the bottom and side.

 

[Bob Brown]

What kind of resin are you using? Dig the bark out. A lot of turning can be dangerous, so always use caution. I've turned many vessels that are made up of cutoffs from burl. Yes it will need more resin but if you use aluminum tape it can be done. Also you can use hot glue along the edges of the tape to help seal the edges. Safety first.

 

[Sam Fleisher]

My 15" jacaranda bowl blank has a large open crack that goes all the way to the bottom. Covering everything on the bottom with hurricane tape and hoping the resin wouldn't leak out was obviously a big mistake. I'm looking for a way to seal the bottom so the resin won't leak. Any suggestions?

Does resin heat up enough to melt hot glue? I don't know, never messed with resin before. Hot glue and aluminum foil? The resin is going to stand out no matter what, could you drill in from the sides and fill those holes with resin after filling the crack to help hold it together?

 

[Bob Brown]

I use alumilite resin. The aluminum tape is what you seal stove pipe with. The hot glue is just to seal the edges of the tape as a back up seal. The bark is the weak point and it has to be removed for safety. Look at how river tables are made. It all just costs money.

 

[Wally Crawford]

I would agree with what others have said about your safety, but if you are determined to salvage the bowl here are a couple steps that have helped me in similar circumstances.

make sure there is no residual Anchorseal on the blank
remove all the bark and any residual dirt or fibers that are down in the crack. Blow it out with air also.
Cut a strip of plastic (I use food container lids from the grocery store deli) about 6" wide and 3" longer than the crack.
Lay down a bead of hot melt on either side and close to the crack
Quickly press the plastic into the hot melt
Seal the edges of the plastic with hot melt-this gives you a double seal

Good luck and let us know how you make out

 

[Kim Metzger]

I would agree with what others have said about your safety, but if you are determined to salvage the bowl here are a couple steps that have helped me in similar circumstances.

make sure there is no residual Anchorseal on the blank
remove all the bark and any residual dirt or fibers that are down in the crack. Blow it out with air also.
Cut a strip of plastic (I use food container lids from the grocery store deli) about 6" wide and 3" longer than the crack.
Lay down a bead of hot melt on either side and close to the crack
Quickly press the plastic into the hot melt
Seal the edges of the plastic with hot melt-this gives you a double seal

Good luck and let us know how you make out

Looks like a plan.

 

[Michael Cunningham]

I've used Flexseal with success

 

[Kim Metzger]

Cut it down for smaller bowl blanks, spindles and pens.

EDIT: Kim, it has at least 4 questionable cracks. Did you buy this from a vendor? Unfortunately you tried to glue it up. If this happens again I would check that vendor's return policy and return it. Also, I wouldn't buy from this vendor again. I would cut it down for smaller blanks. It hurts to sacrifice a "perfectly good blank" but this blank isn't good. You're health is more important then a badly cracked blank.

I cut this myself here in Mexico. A customer requested a very large bowl.

 

[Kim Metzger]

I've used Flexseal with success

I used Wally Crawford's suggestion. Cut the blank down to a 12" blank and used hot melt and plastic from a container. Once it's cured, I'll mount in on a six inch faceplate and start it up at 150 rpm and stay out of the line of fire. Thank for the Flexseal idea.

 

[Wally Crawford]

Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Peter Van Rijssen]

I've done similar pieces with cracks like that. I remove all bark and debris, brush a light coat of epoxy on all surfaces, put it in a bucket, cover with epoxy, and finally place it in a pressure pot overnight.
I've never had an issue with breakage if the wood is dry. Problems come if the wood moves a lot later and the epoxy doesn't. Also, for small cracks I'll cut up pieces of milk jug plastic, cover the areas and seal with hot glue.

 

[Kim Metzger]

Well, here it is. Not the finest bowl I've ever made, but a customer may like it. First of all, I want to thank Emiliano for causing me to think twice. Then, many thanks to Wally for his plastic and hot melt suggestion, which did the trick.

 

[Wally Crawford]

Nice piece of wood Kim and nice job on saving it. I can see why you did ot want to scrap it.

 

[Kim Metzger]

I also found another way to seal it for epoxy resin. May try this the next time.
How to seal big cracks, bark inclusion - Farmer's silage tape

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js-AuEIeeJc