Advice required - Delicate Wooden Goblets

[cumbriafoodie]

Hello everyone , Alan here from Cumbria , UK.

I came across these goblets in a box in the spare room , been there for maybe 15 years.
They've dried out a lot and gathered dust , one has even cracked and fallen apart as they`re as thin as a wafer.
The 3 smallest ones have been lost somewhere , they were only about 10mm.
Can anyone please advise me how to moisten them up again , I have some Danish oil available so can I use that ?
They were made years ago by a guy called Maurice Mullins in Caldbeck , Cumbria. Unfortunately he`s no longer with us.
Thank you kindly.
Alan

[old1955]

Welcome to the forum Alan.

Ross

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Looking at the pix, it appears that they've been turned from solid branches? ie. the core/pith of the branch is the radial axis?

If so, that's the real problem, not their drying out as such. It's one of the no-no's in woodwork; as the timber dries the heart is where the stresses accumulate until it will split. Easily seen in any old firewood log.

The thinness of the turning is probably what has let them last this long, reducing the amount of stresses building up.

Short of building a humidor type environment where they live in a slightly higher humidity (eg. glassing in the front of the display shelf and keeping a barely damp sponge inside) there's not much that you can do. Wipe on products either won't work or will irreversibly alter the finish.

And it's very, very easy to go too far the wrong direction with a humidor, causing damage from swelling instead of shrinking. EMC (equilibrium moisture content) is a fiddly thing to play with. As much art as science, different timbers having different rates of change.

It's a pity, as they are lovely looking goblets and look to be well worth preserving.

[crowie]

G'Day & Welcome to the Great Southern Land and to a top forum "Alan".

There are quite a few members from the UK and many from Europe plus of course the rest of the world.....
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork...
Cheers from On Top DownUnder, crowie

PS - May I suggest you add a new thread in the woodturning and or general woodworking section with your questions and photos,
so you gain a wider audience and thus more answers and assistance [similar to the above]...

[Dalboy]

As stated because they have been turned from branches and the pith left in with many woods this will be the cause of them splitting. Unfortunatley there is no going back in this situation. And again as stated because they were turned so thin in the first place is why some have survived better than others another reason is the type of wood they have been turned from.
Those that are OK would benefit from a soft waxing which will feed the wood you should be safe using the wax as you may not know if the original maker used oil or other finishes and wax will go over these

[JJF]

Welcome to the forum