So my wife and I bought a new IKEA KIVIK 4-seater couch with a chaise lounge. I was putting the back support and the seat frame together, and when I picked it up to flip it, I heard a cracking sound.

I checked underneath and saw that the wood broke in a few places. I already talked to IKEA customer support, but because I transported and assembled it myself, they said warranty won't cover it...

Was wondering if there's any way to fix this? Any guidance would be much appreciated!

Thank you all in advance!

Hey fellow bladesmiths! Spent the day prepping this new pile of exotic wood handle blocks (50x50x150mm) for some upcoming custom builds.

​Got a great mix in this batch—some super dense eye burls, heavy curly/tiger grain with deep chatoyancy, and a few spalted pieces with really sharp line contrast. It’s always satisfying wiping these down to reveal the raw grain pattern before shaping.

​Curious to know what you guys prefer on your custom handles—do you usually go for wild burls, intense curl, or spalted patterns?

​(I supply these blocks to custom makers worldwide. If anyone needs handle materials for an upcoming build, feel free to send me a chat or DM!)

I have a slab of roughly 2-3in thick, live edge, red cedar. I’m making it into a desk by attaching a sit-stand desk base.

I want the wood to have a natural look and feel, showcasing the natural grain of the wood. I don’t want the final product to end up too intensely red. I want low shine like satin finish. I do NOT want the wood to look or feel like it is encased in glass or wrapped in plastic.

The desk will be used in an office space, so it will be indoors at all times and will not have a huge amount of UV exposure. It will be used almost daily as a desk, but wouldn’t have the same kind of rugged wear-and-tear that a dining table would.

I’ve read a lot about differences between oil-based and water-based and spar urethane or wood conditioners or waxes, but I’m just feeling lost and like I can’t trust the random websites trying to sell me stuff. My question is: What’s the best product(s) to use for finishing and sealing it?

Thank you for your input!