[CAS14]

It may be that some cracking is not always a disaster. I am new at this, but I cut a few dead and already dried and cracked red cedar several months ago. I have been working on one, and so far it seems to be solid despite the long cracks. Time will tell.

 

[CAS14]

The two PVC tubes are my "dip tubes" and also storage for my huge investment in Pentacryl.

One is telescoped to accommodate sticks that aren't perfectly straight. If the grip includes a right angle turn at a fork in the branch, then I can't immerse that part. For such things I just use a plastic pail.