If the blade is hard to get in and out - like the slot is not wide enough and
the blade is too wide - it may be that things have shrunk a bit and caused these
side cracks as the blade tried to keep the body from shrinking.  If that is the
case, get the blade out, then widen the slot just a bit.


Ed Minch




On Apr 24, 2015, at 12:27 AM, Adam R. Maxwell  wrote:

>> 
>> Of most concern, the smoother has length wise cracks/splits on each side of
the body top where the wedge terminates in the throat against the iron. These
cracks in front of the wedge are directly affected by the wedge's pressure. The
cracks follow the grain. I am able to close these two splits with a pliers.
> 
> Is this a coffin smoother? Most of them split near the
> abutments where the grain runs out. Ignore that; it’ll
> be fine. If you must, blow some hide glue in there.