How do you keep wood and bamboo from cracking and splitting

Question

How do you keep wood and bamboo from cracking and splitting

Answer 1

Don't let it get dried out or too close to a heat source.  

Answer 2

use a good furniture oil/polish and a humidifier in the areas of the world that is so dry that your skin cracks and splits also.

Answer 3

As the others have pointed out, keeping it from drying TOO rapidly is important.

When WORKING with Wood or Bamboo, you want to make sure you don't apply too much pressure in the "wrong" direction.

The BIGGEST problem I have is wood splitting when nailed or screwed... this is solved by drilling a pilot-hole first.