Stabilizing

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R

rebas

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Apr 6, 2008
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Location
Houston, TX.
Hi all,
I'm in the process of building Stevers vacuum pot. I'm interested in stabilizing porous materials, such as wood, antler, etc. I'm looking for what you folks have found to be the best stabilizing material and if anyone has an opinion on using vacuum vs. pressure.
Thanks,
Jerry
 
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I've not done this personally, but I think many people have had good luck with the wood hardener as seen in the tutorial.

Vacuum vs Pressure: I may have mentally oversimplified it, but I think that for stabilizing, vacuum wins out because it tries to replace the air with the hardener. With pressure, it's pushing into the blank to a certain amount, but I think the displacement is more effective with vacuum.
 
I'm stabilizing blanks 24/7 right now. I've done a few hundred so far, and the Minwax works for me, although it's a bit expensive. Wish they sold it in gallons. Vacuum is best, And don't bother with antler. CA works fine on antler, and it's not hard to turn untreated, plus it will discolor the whiteness of the antler. I put up to about 40 in a 5 qt. bucket and fill halfway up with Minwax and vacuum for 2 days, then turn over and vacuum for another 2 days. Some do it for less time, but I'm in no rush, and if it doesn't soak any more up the material's not going anywhere. I have 2 vacuum pots going right now, and frankly it's opened a whole new world of wood I can now use for pens that I put aside because they were too pithy, soft, or wouldn't take a good finish. Here's an example of one of those blanks-it was REALLY soft before I stabilized it, and was tough to get a good finish on. This turned like plastic and finished like glass after stabilizing. Plus I've been told the red won't be so prone to go away in time after stabilizing. It's spalted, flamed Box Elder Burl.

Dale
 

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Looking good, Spirit. And thanks for sharing your experience. I am about to start stabilizing also. If the local glass company will give me their plexiglas scraps, I'm going to use those dissolved in Acetone for my stable material.
BTW, let us know how the red color holds. Personally, I doubt the stable process will help keep the color. As far as I know, nothing helps except some special UV retardants and that's a whole 'nuther subject of cussin' and discussion.
 
Frank, you may well be right about the color. I wouldn't have put much stock in it but at my last woodturner's club meeting, one of the most experienced turners I've ever met said it was likely. Gimme a few years and I'll get back to you!

Anyway, thanks for the kind comments and you'll love your pot! Mine is used 24/7, literally, and I can't say that about any other tool I own.

Jerry, you gotta love Steve (Stevers), he got me off to a good start at this stuff, but you may want to check out the "simplified pot" post in this category. You'll save at least 40 bucks in hardware and brass, and it's cleaner. I have both, they do exactly the same thing (although for some bizarre reason Steve's design pulls just a tiny bit more vacuum-not enough to be significant, but there it is) but one is cheaper enough to buy another pot. Good luck with whatever you try and share your experiences.

Dale
 
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