Finishing Aged and Weather Cracked Timber

[rod1949]

I using and finishing in the timber in a clear lacquer. I have a fair bit of old aged weather cracked timber (Jarrah) and in order to maintain a reasonable dressed finished size these cracks can't be removed, under a clear finish they add character to the finished item. These cracks vary from hairline to a millimetre or so wide and in varying lengths. Once upon a time I would have just smeared a matching putty into the crack but the putty never really matches and gets into the surrounding grain and sticks out like the proverbial. In more recent times I have painstakingly dripped and/or injected the clear lacquer into the cracks to fill/build them up so the finish becomes one unblemished and smooth surface. I'm currently making a table out of this weathered Jarrah timber and yesterday I decided to flood the timber with the clear lacquer lightly diluted working it into the cracks, today upon drying the cracks are really become enhanced, so as I've sealed the timber I have mixed up some jarrah putty into a pea soup consistency and spread across the entire surface.... I guess tomorrow when I sand it all back will be the test

[Robson Valley]

Can you explain why you need to turn weathered timber into something that it is not?
If it ain't busted don't fix it until it is. Patched cracks will forever look like patched cracks.
Why not make the cracks an accent? Clear methacrylate packed with brass dust from a key cutting machine.
Clear methacrylate filled with polished stone chips, nuts and bolts, preserved insects = whatever.
Patched to quasi-look like wood? Please don't.
PS I'll bring the beer.

[rod1949]

What a brilliant idea Robson with the brass dust... I'll keep it in mind. Thanks

[ivanavitch]

Plus one on the brass filings.

[Robson Valley]

No pic yet to show you. Knife handle in the shape of a bird & head. I used the brass dust for the eyes.
Cut the hole with a Forstner bit (simple round eyes are a design element which sets my carvings apart from any
Pacific Northwest native carving.)
Spread ordinary carpenter's glue over the sides and bottom of the hole.
Pack the hole with brass dust and come back tomorrow.
Shake out the loose brass dust and either consider it done or repeat.
It does not glitter as much as I had hoped but it is attractive.
= = =
I live in a little village of 500 in the Rocky mountains of British Columbia.
I dusted the local hardware store key cutting machine once a week for maybe 6-7 weeks
to harvest some 200g brass dust ("Pixie-Dust", they called it). More than I'll use in a lifetime.
= = =

Get some. Do the experiment. See if that's the "look" you like.