Can cocobolo be stabilized?
- Thread starter joycetang
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alamocdc
Member
Actually I think it's because of the density, but everything I've read says it won't take stabilization.
wudwrkr
Member
I've worked a lot with Cocobolo and I don't feel it needs to be stabilized. It turns great and polishes nicely.
thetalbott4
Member
The issue is more of the oil in Cocobolo. Even the most dense materials can be stabilized. They can even get the stuff into metals in engine blocks for various reasons. Problem is if the cells are occupied by water or oils or other substances, the stabilizing material has nowhere to go.
JimGo
Member
Joyce, first...welcome! Now, why would you want to stabilize yur cocobolo? Are you thinking about the sapwood?
Johnathan
Member
I'm really not sure why you would want to do this. It seems like a whole lot of work for no reason.[:I]
Good question! The reason I'd consider stabilizing it is I'd like to put a sterling silver filigree over it; the fit needs to be tight so it would be best if it didn't expand or contract with varying humidity or temperature. Sounds like cocobolo can't be stabilizied so now the question is, would this be a good wood for this pen or maybe I should use something else that can be stabilized?
alamocdc
Member
Well, this ain't the first time I've been wrong.[
] And probably won't be the last.
Rifleman1776
Member
If this is your wood of choice, you might consider using clear jewlers glue for the filigree. Actually, I don't think you would have a problem.
Johnathan
Member
Well, after you have placed the silver, turn it, then apply a CA finish to hold everything in. You can can also use a jewlers glue under the sliver. Hope this helps.[8D]
Pipes
Member
I can't see why one would need to ? That IMHO is one a the best woods to turn and takes a GREAT polish !! I ship a LOT of my tampers with N0 or very little finish maybe just a tad a wax on this wood! and tell my cust to wax it if they feel the need !!!
OSCAR15
Member
I do not understand....Some woods MUST be stabilized, and I usually try to avoid those (with a few exceptions). I hate the feel of the plastics, and resins. Most of my pens have just a shellac based friction polish. I know a lot of penmakers swear by CA but I'd rather re-finish than to have it feel like plastic. When the finish dulls on fine antiques, it is desirable, and called a "patina". Many penmakers however, want to turn fine wood into something that feels like plastic. I do not understand this. If I wanted it to feel like plastic, I would turn acrylics rather than wood...OSCAR
jdavis
Member
Why do you want to stabilize it
OSCAR15
Member
Joyce...I think that most likely, Cocobolo is too oily a wood to take stabilization. I have never seen it available commercially.
If your design must use stabilized wood, I would recommend Box elder.
I have seen some that was dyed in reddish browns, similar in color (but not grain patterns) to cocobolo. Hope this helps.
If your design must use stabilized wood, I would recommend Box elder.
I have seen some that was dyed in reddish browns, similar in color (but not grain patterns) to cocobolo. Hope this helps.
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