Newbie Question

[rjwolfe3]

Does all wood need stabilizing or just soft wood?

 

[Daddy1]

I have been making pens for about 18 months and have used all kinds of wood and never stabilized anything. I think if you have something really porous like a corn cob that needs to be stabilized so it won't breakup when you turn.

 

[wdcav1952]

Rob, soft wood is easier to turn if stabilized. You can also stabilize on the go by soaking the blank with thin CA, turning until the wood gets soft again and adding more CA.

Harder woods often won't take up the stabilizing material so stabilizing is of little to no use.