Not a very good picture but I think you will be able to see the split on the wood.
How to fix splitting wood?
+4
I have a 4 poster bed and one of the boards, connecting the bed to the frame at the end of the bed has split/cracked. I can feel the split on the inside and clearly see it on the outside. The board is 7" H x 57" L x 1 1/4" D and the split is 5" long, the wood is pine. When I run my finger vertically down the wood it sticks out just a tiny bit. Unfortunately the board has been glued to the frame. I am planning to repaint the bed but I'm afraid it might continue to spilt more if not repaired. How can I fix this problem? Thank You for your help!
Use a mending plate. Position the holes on each side of the crack, preferably on the inside of the bed frame so it won’t be seen, and screw in to the wood. I’ve attached a picture from Lowe’s.com. This should prevent the wood from cracking any further. I’ve used these many times over the years and the wood has never cracked further. Good luck!
Two par t epoxy should do the trick. Mix the epoxy. Use a putty knife and open the crack. Force some epoxy into the crack. Place some wax paper or plastic wrap on both sides of the board covering the crack. Put a piece of wood on both sides of the boards over the crack. Use clamps on the boards to flatten the board. Let it dry for a day or two. Remove the clamps, boards, and wax paper or plastic wrap. Sand smooth, prime, and paint.
Gayle,
Many types of wide boards are actually made up of narrower boards glued together. It's hard to tell if your split is two boards separating or a crack in the middle of a wide board and if having glued it or the way it was fastened caused the crack. You can't really take the boards apart and re-glue them since the frame is glued together. I would suggest using what is called a mending plate, mending bracket, or nail plate. They are available in the big box stores. Measure the thickness of the board and use a fastener that is about 1/3 to 1/2 the thickness of the board. It will go on the inside of the board and help stabilize it. Make sure the plate is longer than the crack. If the crack goes all the way to the end of the board where it meets the footboard, use an L-shaped plate. If you are repainting you can sand the area smooth. Save the sawdust and mix it with some wood glue. Use it to fill the area if the crack has any voids. Let the glue dry and then sand again before painting.
Many thanks to all of you that provided me with a solution for fixing my bed! You're the best ever!