I have an old family dresser that looks like maple.
It has a crack along the top from left to right in the middle of the dresser top. Also, the side slats are separated where the boards are glued together.
What would you recommend I do to get the crack wide enough on the top to get some adhesive in the joint and clamp them togegther? Also, what type of adhesive would you recommend? MaNY THAnks
Richard Peltier

richard peltier, June 2010

the common cause of wood splitting is because it has warmed up by being by a window in the sun or near a radiator.
the best way is NOT to glue and clamp it but to use a wax filling stick the same colour as the unit.
get a small BLUNT filling knife with no sharp edges and scrape some wax onto the knife then heat the wax up with a lighter then press the wax into the split.
let the wax harden of the use a towel to buff of the excess wax.

clint parker (french polisher), July 2010