Stabilizing

[samm47]

I have run across some spalted box elder and had thought about trying to stabilizing it. I do not have a vacum pump. Is that a necessity to stabilizing wood?

 

[Fleabit]

Yup. Do a search on Stabalizing and you will find a lot of threads that have covered this. Lots of good info.

 

[wee willie]

here is a site that might help
www.northcoastknives.com/northcoast_ knives_tutorials_hints_tips3.htm - 50k -

 

[ctEaglesc]

Nope cut a blank and prepare it for turning.(you might want to knock the corners off) Apply thin CA as you turn,it should absorb quite a bit.
let it soak in before hitting it with accelerator.When you have turned off the cA give it another dose.
Stabilizing with a vacuum would be another method but for one pen the CA will work.
(Well maybe should work is a better term, it works on red palm and corn cobs, denim , string , ribbon and any other wierd thing I've tried)

 

[dougle40]

Try this for stabilizing . You don't need a vacuum pump .Very interesting site .
http://www.northcoastknives.com/northcoast_knives_tutorials_hints_tips3.htm

 

[wdcav1952]

Doug, I would never seek to contradice a "HAC" member. However, I tried this method and it is a bit dangerous. I think it would work with knife scales since the blank is thin, but I got poor penetration with my pen blanks. The chemical is not really designed to be heated, and can, don't ask how I know :-{ , react rather violently when over-heated. Simpler to use CA, much smarter to use Steve White to stabilize your blanks.

 

[Ryan]

I saw a product in the paint department at a big orange box store and claims it hardens soft wood. It was made by Minwax and they called it "Wood Hardner" I have not tried it so I do not know if it works. Has anyone tried this product? If not it may be worth a try.

Ryan

 

[DCBluesman]

I tried this about 5-6 months back, Ryan. The penetration was fair (at best), the wood took forever to dry (smelling up the house in the process) and overall I was not impressed. Just my experience.

 

[dougle40]

I tried this method and it is a bit dangerous. I think it would work with knife scales since the blank is thin, but I got poor penetration with my pen blanks. The chemical is not really designed to be heated, and can, don't ask how I know :-{ , react rather violently when over-heated.

Thanks for that William . I've not tried this but it SOUNDED good !!![:I]
I tried to stabilize some wood by just submersing it in some poly finish and left it there for 3 weeks then let it dry for another week . What a bust and waste of time !!!![V][V]

 

[Gary]

You can have the blanks stabilized at River Ridge Products for $1.00 each. The quality of work is excellent. Their link is:

http://www.rrpwhite.com/