this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2026
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Woodworking

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What is the best way to repair this large crack UPDATED (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) by LordCrom@lemmy.world to c/woodworking@lemmy.ca
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This is a wing Chung training dummy. Its 50 plus years old. The crack runs down the length of the dummy. It doesn't move, its still very solid, but we would like to seal the crack to avoid further damage.

Our thought wes to use wood shims to fill in the space with wood glue, then use straps or screw down hose fittings to squeeze the dummy together so the glue and shims hold. Then saw off the excess and stain to match color.

Is there a better method or is the above plan stupid? This dummy is special and has history, I just don't want to make it worse.

Update: Thanks for the suggestions. This wood is hard as a rock. I tried a small wood chisel just to see if a butterfly joint was doable and I could barely scratch the thing. I am guessing I couldn't squeeze it tighter around glue and shims either.

Someone mentioned just leave it if its that old....i m thinking I might just do that. I may just fill in the crack them closely watch it for signs of damage as it gets used.

I'm being very careful because this thing has history being used by Dan Inosanto.

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[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 48 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

I'd go with a bowtie joint or similar.
Filling the crack is one thing, but I'm not sure I'd be enough to prevent further splitting in the way a bowtie joint would.

[–] Nomecks@lemmy.ca 33 points 4 weeks ago

This, then fill it with epoxy.

Unless you can actually clamp the crack closed without further cracking it. If you can, fill the crack with glue and squeeze it closed. It'll never crack again on the glue line.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 12 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

+1 on bowties

[–] a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

Bowtie.

[–] Lommy@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

I learned something new today!

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 25 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Adding another view of the damage.

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 14 points 4 weeks ago

For those like me that couldn't figure out what we're looking at :

http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/the-wing-chun-forms/dummy-form/

http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/the-wing-chun-forms/dummy-form/

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 20 points 4 weeks ago

One thing to think about is expansion. If that gap closes up when it gets humid and opens again when it dries out filling the gap will just cause new splits when the wood expands again.

[–] pageflight@lemmy.world 10 points 4 weeks ago

No advice beyond what others have given, but good luck, and I'd enjoy Wing Chun related content if you want to post that too!

[–] jodanlime@midwest.social 8 points 4 weeks ago

You could fill in the larger areas with wood shims and then finish off the face with wood putty, basically wood glue with sawdust mixed in. You can buy it premade. It stains more like wood than glue does.

[–] ElcaineVolta@kbin.melroy.org 5 points 4 weeks ago

not an expert, but your plan sounds far from stupid.

[–] DavidP@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I would leave it alone. Given the age of the wood it will likely not crack any further. It has already dried as much as it can.

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

What about the wood putty suggestion to fill it in?

[–] DavidP@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago

Wood putty won't add any strength. The crack and piece are large enough where seasonal variation would likely cause the putty to separate from the wood anyway.

[–] hateisreality@lemmy.world 1 points 4 weeks ago

I'd suggest checking out John Maleki on YouTube...he's a huge wood nerd and would probably answer if you reached out.

[–] scutiger@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

You can mix wood glue with sawdust and pack it in the cracks

[–] Orijohnal@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 weeks ago

For such a narrrow crack, getting enough epoxy into the space to restore structural strength will be tricky. I've had good success with fine sawdust 'petrified' in place with cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. Practice on a test piece to optimize colour. A museum conservator would probably not disguise the repair, but if you are trying to do that, consider refinishing the whole piece. Changing moisture conditions, as already pointed out, will stress any repair but given the piece's age, maintaining humidity within normal indoor conditions will minimize any movement.

[–] m0darn@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

What about wrapping it with cord/rope? That would be reversible, and keep a similar aesthetic

[–] LordCrom@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

It already has the mid wrapped up. I'll keep that as an option