[QUOTE=CitizenOfDreams;2407818]Why is the wood charring to start with? Blunt tool, inappropriate speed / RPM / DOC? Wetting the wood sounds counterproductive to me.[/QUOTE}

I'm guessing that it is the result of the contact with molten glass.I can offer very little advice on working with wet wood other than suggesting that you might try using quarter sawn blanks as they will be less liable to move.