Wood Turning

[Old Woodie]

Both wood and antler material cracking. Both are definitely dry, I used the correct size drill bits, etc. So what do you think is happening? I have had several to crack. Don't want any coming back after I sell them! Thanks in advance!

[johnclucas]

I don't turn many pens so this is just a guess.  Could it be heat checks from over sanding.

[Old Woodie]

Thanks John,

That was my guess too. I know that the antlers got pretty hot when sanding. The wood ones cracked some weeks later. Could still have been the heat generated by sanding too much.

[Andy K.]

John is probably right on the money with the heat. It is also dependant on the wood. I turned some Gabon Ebony and had it split a couple of months later. Some woods while they feel fine and turn OK, are not truly dry.

[The Old Oak Tree]

Also be careful not to tighten the bushings against the blank to tight.

[Allen Worsham]

What speed on the lathe are you sanding with? You want a slower speed for sanding as higher speeds will cause a lot of heat which will crack the blanks either immediately or over time due to the stresses. You also want to use a light touch while sanding as well. If your fingers are getting warm, then you are sanding too hard and too fast. I will typically turn my pens fast at 1800 or better and then sand slow 500-800. While I have never turned antler, I have been told by other penturners that it is very susceptible to cracking due to heat build up. The same goes for some harder woods like ebony, iron wood and others.