The term “crotch wood” refers to a section of wood that is harvested from the crotch, or fork, of a tree. When milled, crotch wood reveals a beautiful, feather-like grain, making it ideal for veneers, cabinets, instruments, fine furniture, and turning projects.

That said, due to its irregular grain, crotch wood can be difficult to work with.

Cough once if you’ve ever heard that one before. 😉

Fortunately, I’ve compiled a few simple tips to help you achieve the best results when working with crotch wood.

For better or worse, by the end of this article, people will be calling you a crotch master! (That’s what she said!)

Tips For Working With Crotch Wood

Like any woodworking project, the more patient and prepared you are, the better your final product will be.

Here are a few tips to help you achieve the best results possible the next time you incorporate crotch wood into a project:

Keep Your Tools Extra Sharp

This one seems obvious, but it’s worth repeating. When working with any type of wood, you’ll get the best results if you use a sharp blade.

However, it’s especially important when working with crotch wood because of its irregular grain. A sharp blade will help you avoid tear-out and minimize the amount of sanding and repair work you’ll need to do later.

To be clear, I’m not just talking about power tools here. From table saws to hand planes, it’s important that you keep a sharp edge on every tool.

And the more expensive the piece of crotch wood, the more important it is to keep your tools sharp.

Use A Slower Feed Rate

When feeding crotch wood through your table saw, band saw, planer, jointer, or any other power tool, go slowly. This will help minimize tear-out and give you a cleaner result.

Additionally, don’t ever force it. Since the grain in crotch wood is so wild, it’s normal to feel a little extra resistance at times. If this happens, just let your tool do the work, and don’t try and force it through.

Opt For A Random Orbit Sander

A random orbit sander is going to be your best friend when working with crotch wood.

The reason for this is that the grain in crotch wood can be very unpredictable, and a random orbit sander will help you achieve a smooth, consistent finish.

Just be sure to use a fresh sanding disc and keep the sander moving at all times. Seriously, a random orbit sander is your best friend when working with crotch wood.

Use A Pore Filler To Emphasize The Grain

The grain on crotch wood can be absolutely spectacular. Honestly, it can turn an otherwise boring woodworking project into a high-end, show-stopping piece.

Because of that, you should do everything in your power to emphasize its beauty. And one of the best ways to really make the grain “pop” is by pore filling the wood prior to finishing.

Ok, but what is pore filling?

Pore filling is the process of filling the pores in the wood with a putty or resin. This helps to create a smooth, consistent surface that easier to finish, and emphasizes the details in the grain.

There are many different products you can use to pore fill wood, but my personal favorite is Timbermate. Not only is it easy to work with, but it creates a beautiful result.

To pore fill with Timbermate I like to use a dark color and mix it with a little bit of water until it’s about the consistency of pudding. Then, using an old credit card, I wipe it on diagonal to the grain until all the pores are filled, then remove any excess.

Once it dries, simply sand off the remaining residue and apply your finish.

It’s simple, quick, and makes the grain pop like crazy.

Beware Of Cracks And Holes (i.e. Voids)

Due to the grain irregularity in crotch wood, it’s normal to run into some voids and cracks here and there. When this happens, I recommend fixing these issues with wood epoxy.

I personally prefer to use West System epoxy because of it’s thin viscosity, workability, and long dry time, but as long as you know what you’re doing, pretty much any epoxy will work.

On the other hand, if you’re dealing with non-structural voids or cracks, wood filler can also be a great option.

For that, once again, I recommend Timbermate.

Oil It Up

In most cases, I’m a satin clear coat kind of guy. There’s just something so comforting about a thin layer of protection covering your wood.

However, when it comes to crotch wood, I actually lean more toward an oil finish.

Whether it be linseed oil, danish oil, or tung oil, I think an oil finish on crotch wood just looks more organic and “wild” than a clear coat.

Not only does it highlight the grain, but it also provides a nice, natural layer of protection.

And, if your piece ever starts to look a little dull, you can just re-apply another coat. After all, you can never have too much oil.

If, on the other hand, you like the idea of a clear coat, I recommend going all out and using a high-gloss finish. I realize these 2 options are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but for crotch wood, both look great.

Get Your Hands On Some Crotch Wood

There’s no doubt about it, crotch wood can make a run-of-the-mill woodworking project stand out.

If you’re looking for a way to add some extra wow factor to your next woodworking project, definitely consider using crotch wood.

Oh, and if you weren’t offended by all the double entendres in this article, be sure to subscribe to our email list. We’ll send our best diy tips, tricks, and tool recommendations directly to your inbox.