Stabilized Wood from WSSI

[gerryr]

I have a few pieces of this stuff, about 1-1/8" diameter, left over from making fly rods. I turned some last night and it is a lot different from the stabilized wood from BB. The stuff from WSSI(Wood Stabilizing Specialists Inc) smells exactly like arcylic when turning and polishes like glass without anything added for finish. I have a two year old fly rod that I made the real seat on from this stuff and it still looks like it just came off the lathe. Does anyone know how their process is different?

 

[ed4copies]

I am not familiar with WSSI, but it sounds like the formula used for "Diamondwood", which is a brand name. I've used quite a bit of it and the shine really "lives on".

"Colorwood" and others don't have the same characteristics.

 

[Dario]

I heard lots of good things about WSSI from a knife maker I deal with.

 

[Ron Mc]

Unless I'm mistaken I believe that WSSI is one of the stabilizers that stabilizes BB's wood. I've noticed that you can turn 10 blanks that are all stabilized by the same company and they will all smell different. I believe it is just due to the stability of the blank and how much of the acrylic (or chemicals) it absorbs.

 

[ctEaglesc]

At a gun and knife show I recently went to there was a knife maker who had some stabilized blanks on display.
Just by picking them up I could tell they were not the same as the stabilized blanks I had purchased from other sources.
I guessed because of the abuse a knife takes the process was "different"

 

[chigdon]

WSSI is the same process that any true stabilized wood you buy uses and is the company BB uses. I have used them before as well.

 

[bonefish]

On WSSI's web site, there is a picture of a bowl turned by BB. Apparently, he uses WSSI wood, himself.

Bonefish