Surface checking...Bocote

[green valley gobbler]

Buddy and I just began building 3 piece takedown recurves earlier this year.  Last nite we were on our 4th coat of Thunderbird finish when we noticed a small crack or surface check in the bocote of one of our risers that wasn't there day before.   We were surprised to see the surface check as we had 3 coats of thunderbird on the riser.  Can or should we fill this with Loctite 420 now or will it harm the finish and show?  Its about a 1/2 inch check.  Also once you seal shouldn't these checks stop?  This bocote has been a real pain to work with due to the surface checks.  Before we began sealing we filled several with a syringe and loctite 420 and sanding, worked well. I'm worried more will show after we get the finish done but isn't that what the sealer is for???  Thanks in advance!

[monterey]

It would help us help you think this through if we had some idea on the moisture content of the wood between the time you received it and now as the checking begins.  Climate differences between that at the source of purchase and your location can be a factor if the difference in the humidity is significant.

I don't like to be a downer but it doesn't look good for the long term but, you are where you are with it and may as well continue with the injections.  I wonder if it might not be a good idea to remove the Tbird and allow the wood to do as it will for a while and then fill when it is finished moving.

These are just ideas on my part so It would be a good idea to get as many thoughts on this as possible.  I'm sure more will be forthcoming.

[DoubleLung]

Where is the crack on the riser and what direction as it relates to the orientation of the riser? A picture would help quite a bit.

It's odd that it would have cracked in the finish stage and not prior. Did you have it under higher heat to help with the finish setting than you did when you were building it?