Benefits of Stabalizing Wood?

[OutofTurnSam]

After doing numerous google searches, I keep coming up dry as to why wood needs to be stabalised. Every place I got the benefits are listed (it makes wood harder, fills in holes, easier to turn, etc) but no one will tell me what happens if I DON'T stabalize before turning.

The reason I'm asking is because my dad has a gold mine of hardwood the approximate size of pen blanks that I would LOVE to turn once I get the hang of it. Only after reading about stabalizing my own blanks - it seems like it will be a big pain to do it myself. Which would leave me with having it done by a professional. A good idea for that perfect piece of burl - not so much for the 50 random "decent" pieces.

What would happen if I turned them without stablizing? Is it possible that they will turn fine? Or is the risk of them blowing out too great? Would they warp and split over time? Or would a good CA & BLO finish be all that would be needed to keep them in good shape?

Thanks so much!

 

[Fred]

Sam ...

Doing a SEARCH using the Forum's "SEARCH" function ... well here it is for ya:

http://www.penturners.org/forum/sea...hinfo=1&photoplog_searchquery=Stabilized+wood

Read all that interests you on this subject ... there are more than eleven Forum pages of information, not to mention the Library articles.

If these don't answer all your questions, then I'm quite sure they articles will at least give you more ideas than you can shake a stick at.

Have fun and hope you have a good pair of reading glasses.

 

[OutofTurnSam]

Thanks for the link.

I'm still trying to get the search and library functions to work right for me. I *thought* I was computer literate - but this forum navigates weird. =P

Anyways, thanks again and I will read through them tonight.

 

[OutofTurnSam]

I found a very helpful thread here.

To answer my question - Stabalizing just makes turning easier. No matter what I do, some blanks are just going to get torn up or ruined. But when I am working with soft woods it is best to have them stabalized in some form to prevent them from just falling apart on the lathe.

Conclusion - I should not have to stabalize the hard woods that my dad has collected. Some of these may even be near impossible to stabalize anyways.

Thanks for the help with the search feature. I hope my summary will other newcomers just skimming through the forums. =)