Not specifically related to woodturnings….however, if you have an outdoor deck or other structure that’s checking or splitting, and you don’t want to replace the timber(s)….give this a try ......
I have wood decking lumber, specifically horizontal 2x6’s and rails that when purchased were labeled as exterior, ground contact from local a big box store. They were coated with an appropriate semi-solid darker wood stain in 2012. Poorest choice to buy big box lumber….go to lumber yard. Hopefully have learned, now at my advanced age.
I came across this trick accidently. The temporary fix….leave the lumber in place. Strip or sand off old stain, remove all dust, wipe down with wet rag and let dry. Re-stain, color of your choice. Allow a week or so dry and cure. Using a paint brush, paint the surfaces, especially the surfaces exposed to the sun with Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue. For deep gulleys or splits, let the glue soak in. Coat the cut ends as well.
After 3 months of coating, the wood has not checked. The glue has formed a sort of plastic coating, that’s impervious to the elements…The stain color shows thru if you don’t coat with a thick coat. Multiple thin coats seem to work fine.
On another project, my sea wall’s 4x6 posts, placed in 1978 or so, and they have rotted, at least the top couple of inches or so exposed to the sun. The rest of the posts appear to be solid. I coated the tops of all the posts 2 ½ yrs ago. Today they look the same as when they were sealed/coated….albeit, lots glue was used as it soaked in.
Give it a try.
Bob Raasch