Can a cracked wooden tub be repaired?
To repair a cracked wooden tub (we often supply this advice to customers who own wooden tubs from other makers) use the following guidelines:
1) small crack, no leak: just fill the tub and let it rehydrate overnight. As the wood swells back the crack should be completely reabsorbed.
2) small crack with leak: place newspaper pages inside the tub spread over the crack area (be sure NOT to use a newspaper printed with petroleum-based ink). Then fill the tub. The newspaper does not let the water through but transfers the humidity to the wood. Proceed as 1) above.
3) medium crack with leak: fill the crack in its deepest area with clear silicon caulking and let dry for 24 hours. Then fill the tub and keep the water inside for 1-2 days, The wood should swell back and a part of the silicon will probably be squeezed out.
You can cut the excess of silicon with a cutter knife.
4) large crack or asymmetrical crack (triangular shaped): in this case the wood not only cracked but warped as well. Even if re-hydrated it will not return to its position completely. In this case, you should fill the crack with epoxy putty (we can supply it) + sand to make the surface even and make the repair invisible as much as possible.
This crack happens often when the client uses air-conditioning or heating equipment and as a countermeasure keeps some water inside the tub. This precaution is of course very important BUT please understand that it cannot guarantee 100% that also the external side of the wood planks will be sufficiently hydrated.
Ela Choina
2018年10月19日 at 1:33 PMHi
We leave in the US and have an ofuro bath (large crack, we left it dry for too long) from a different manufacturer. I have found your suggestions how to fix the crack. As the silicone was not sufficient, it seems we need to use the epoxy. Can we poosibly but it from you? Would you be able to ship to the US?
Thank you!
Ela
hinoki
2018年10月22日 at 12:23 PMHi Ela,
Can you send me a photo of the crack? Do you know in which material/maker of the tub? I might be able to advise better.
Yes, we can send you a pack of white wood color epoxy putty (underwater use)
60g ¥4,000 (incl. air shipping to USA)
The epoxy will harden in about 6 hours @ 73degrees F.
Instructions in english are included with the product.
Please contact me with your shipping address at japan@bartokdesign.com
Also, make a paypal for 4000 JPY (about 37 USD) to japan@bartokdesign.com
Best //
iacopo