Can ya tell me about stabilizing?

[BigRob777]

Ah, now for my first technical question. Why do we stabilize blanks, when we want them dry? I know one guy doesn't like pentacryl, what about the rest of you? What are my alternatives?
What affect does pentacryl have on turning/ turnming/ finishing?
Thanks,
Rob in DE
aka beginner

 

[PenWorks]

An alternative, is to send your blanks to be stabilized to River Ridge.
Let Steve do the dirty work, he's one of the best at it.
Stabilized blanks turn and finish better.
http://www.rrpwhite.com/

 

[DCBluesman]

Interesting way of posing that question, Rob. A stabilized is the ultimate in "dry". The water (and a great deal of the air) in the wood is replaced by resin (plastic). There are a number of excellent reasons for stabilizing wood, including to make a brittle or punky piece of wood suitable for turning. Also, stabilized wood shrinks and expands much less so the potential for checking or change in fit is reduced. Many on the forum swear by stabilizing. For the most part I prefer my wood natural. FWIW, not all stabilizing is done with resin. You can stabilize by saturating a partially turned blank by soaking with thin CA glue.

 

[jdavis]

Agree with Anthony on blanks turning and finishing better.