Repairing Splits in the Table
	Another common problem, caused by shrinkage of the braced top, is a split along the glue-line where the 2 halves of the book-matched front were glued together. Usually the top is still firmly attached to the struts beneath and cannot be forced together again.		The solution is to insert a thin sliver of spruce into the gap. Old wood is used where possible, and it is carefully pared down to the exact shape of the split, before being glued in.
I try to make the fillet wedge-shaped, difficult when thin, so that is gradually forced into the gap, which itself has slightly angled sides. It is often necessary to use a clamp to keep the pressure on while the glue sets.		Once sanded, if done well, there is nothing to show that the insert is there other than a slight colour variation, which in time will even itself out as the 'new' wood darkens in the daylight.
	Here is another example, but in this one the crack is not down the centre-line, which is just visible to the right. A portion of the table has given way, in this case in 2 places, the piece in between having been lost. A similar operation, but using a much wider fillet.		Another photo of a centre-line glue-up. I often glue re-enforcers under the split, similar to the cauls visible in this shot, to try and strengthen the weakened area.