warped table - now cracking

[crisgal]

i've just bought a fabulous, very very heavy beech block table. I think it's been stored in a damp garage and now that it's heating up (it was next to a radiator) it is forming some very large cracks! Is there anything I can do to

a) stop the cracks getting any bigger? (i've turned off the radiator)

b) prevent any further cracks from forming?

thanks!

[logman]

It seems like your table has dried out too fast and caused it to crack, this is known as "shakes" in timber. you may be able to close the cracks by draping some damp towels over it for a few days. If its a butchers type bench, you wont want to ruin it with oil etc.

[stanleyman]

Unseasoned wood will do this if it is dried out too quickly. If the table has been stored in a damp atmosphere for long then it needs to dry out slowly ideally over several months. Put it outside and damp it to stop it shrinking more for now then keep it somewhere dry but not too warm until the moisture content has stabilised.