How to Repair Broken and/or Twisted Tree Cores

Introduction

This guide will help to increase the efficiency, usability, and quality of tree cores. This guide will go through the process of repairing broken and/or twisted tree cores through simple and easy-to-follow steps. When tree cores are exposed to dry air for too long, they can dry out and potentially crack, warp, or even shatter. When mishandled or stored improperly, this can also damage the tree cores beyond usability. This guide will show people how to restore their tree cores to their original quality, through re-aligning and piecing together the wood, re-introducing moisture, and carefully untwisting the samples back to their original quality.

What you need

Step 1 How to Repair Broken and/or Twisted Tree Cores

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Cut one end of the straw holding the tree core.
Using tweezers, pull out the wood pieces and set them aligned on a mount.

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Step 2

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With a pencil, mark the direction of the growth of the wood on each side to observe any twists.

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Step 3

Fill up a humidifier with tap water.

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Step 4

Hold the core over the humidifier with your hands or tweezers for 30 seconds to 2 minutes until the wood is softened to reintroduce moisture.

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Step 5

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Twist the wood carefully with your hands, turning the wood in the opposite way of the twist until each side is lined up with the other.

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Step 6

Put a line of Elmer's glue on the mount.

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Step 7

Adjust each piece of the wood to fit neatly and tightly together with all the wood growth facing vertically on the mount.

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Step 8

Put tape on the ends, breaks, and bends of the wood sample, and/or tap the core down 4 times along the wood.

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Step 9

Leave overnight for the glue to harden before removing the tape.

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Conclusion

For any state your tree core might be in, either following this guide step by step or just for pointers, should enhance the quality of your tree core.

One other person completed this guide.