howdy doody

i got some spalted hard maple today, its looks fantastic (pictures below)

the problem i can see is that it is very soft almost powdery

i have read a few things on stabilizing wood but i was just wondering what people are now using for stabilizing

i was thinking about trying resin with the vacuum pump it should get well into the wood

thanks for reading

MIK

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I would have thought (no experience to back this up) that putting under pressure would be better to force the resign into the wood.

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Cheers Rum Pig

It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

i was planning on both mate

vacuum first to stuck the air out of the wood which should be replaeced by the resin

then pressure to push the resin further into the wood

this is guess work on my behalf at the moment as well

this for your thoughts

MIK

I would be interested to see if there was a difference between vacuum and pressure V just pressure.
The vacuum part for some reason vacuum part does not gel with me. but I have been wrong many times before

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Cheers Rum Pig

It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

I have tried this with moderate success but only once and I used a pressure pot. One thing I did get told and should have listened more was to scrape out or dig out any loose parts on the blank because thats where trouble can and may I say did happen.

Cheers Ian

I use a combination of alternating pressure, then vacuum, then pressure again. Main thing is that the resin is water thin to enable penetration and blanks sink in the mix indicating full penetration (they usually float at first).

I have tried a number of stabilizing products available in Aus, the best being the one I'm using now, that is Epox Epoxy Wood Preserver from FGI. It is basically a two part very thin epoxy. After mixing it lasts hours before gelling, and if excess is stored in a sealed glass jar, took days to gel enabling me to use it a number of times over a few days. Vacuum and hot weather does make it go off faster.

The product never goes brittle hard, more like a hard rubber. Only problem is that a lot of resins will not stick to it, so you must use epoxy for glue up after stabilizing, although CA coating seem Ok. If casting WW wood blanks etc, you must cast first, then stabilize.

Probably said all this before, CRAFT setting in , but hope this helps.

ps Nice blanks

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RP - i will try both ways just to see what happens

Neil - i wish could use that stuff that you are using now but i am allergic to anythng epoxy so i wll have to pass on that even though it sonds really good

i think it will be quite a learning experence but then again that is everything i have tried so far

thanks for the input
MIK

The definately don't use this stuff, the fumes are really strong

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Those spalted maple blanks should stable just beautifully.
I have been stabilizing for only a few months and find maple is a very nice wood to stable. Often, when turned, it needs no finish, just fine sanding.
I use plexiglas dissolved in Acetone.
As to the question of vacuum or pressure, I have no scientific evidence one works better than the other. I only use vacuum on the theory if air is removed something will replace it. In the case of being submerged in a stable solution that would be what replaces the air. So far my theory has given very satisfactory results. I pull 23 inches of mercury.

How do you purchase your plexiglass? I can purchase plexiglass sheet, but is that Ok, or do you need it in a shredded type form for easier dissolving?

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i have only done one so far, need to make a better mold before i do any more though

i tried disolving solid pieces of perspex(plexiglass) and it does work but takes a fair whileand you don't need much perspex in the acetone, i could have started out with toooooooo much perspex in the acetone as well

i didn't end up tring it because it was suggested that the acetone melts the rubber inside the vacuum pump

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No Result Without Effort

I am very fortunate, a manufacturer friend sends me scrap free. I pay only shipping. Otherwise, it can be purchased from window companies. I plan to solicit the ones in my area for free scrap just in case my current source stops for some reason.
I did cut up into little pieces but I think that is not really necessary and will put large pieces in next time. I only stable a couple times a month so there is plenty of time for the solution to work on the plexi. Cutting can be hard on bandsaw blades.