<![CDATA[Physical deformation such as checks or cracks is commonly encountered in the process of drying wood statues. In the senses of economic and quality improvement, such a case has long been a serious handicap to the Balinese crofters. A number of trials have been made through modification of drying schedules, but these gave little protection agents check/crack development, particularly for the medium to large size statues. The use of polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) has significantly reduced the rate of physical deformation, however, it raised another problem in finishing and could promote a surface discoloration. This study examined another approach of cracking prevention by application of coating treatments to the end grain of wood structure.Fresh logs of two wood species, i.e., sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria {L.) Nielsen.) and mindi (Melia azedarach L.) were crosscut to 50 cm long specimens, and then shaped into a simple cat-form statues sizing of approximately 21 cm wide and 46 cm long. End coatings were applied separately using 4 different materials, i.e., resorcinol formaldehyde, polyvinyl acetate, wood filler and cement. All treatments were accomplished approximately 30 minutes prior to oven drying, Physical deformation of wood statues was de/ermined by measuring the width, length and gap-size of cracks using a digital caliper. The related physical characteristics, such as moisture content and specific: gravity of each species were also determined.Sengon had a lower specific: gravity, but a greater green moisture content and dry-ability than mindi. Wood physical deformation of both treated and untreated sengon was obviously greater than mindi. The effectiveness of end coating treatments in reducing wood cracks varied according to wood species and the coating materials. Wood statues of sengon experienced more rigorous cracks than those of mindi. The use of wood adhesives as coating materials gave a helter cracking protection than the wood filling agents. Although polyvinyl acetate could not greatly minimize the physical deformation of belalu, it revealed to be the most effective coating material for cracking prevention. ]]>
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