Ultraseal storage issue

[sbell111]

I really like Ultraseal. However, I made the decision early this summer to not stabilize any more wood while the baby was baking. I buttoned up my stock of Ultraseal as follows:

- Half a gallon of Ultraseal on 'chemical shelf' in the air conditioned shop.
- Quart 'paint can' (normally used during the vac process) topped off completely and left on workbench.
- small mason jar about 1/3 full of Ultraseal; also left on workbench.

Yesterday, my wife took an order for a spalted sycamore Jr Gent. This was great news, except for the fact that we had no more unstabilized spalted sycamore. I had to stabilize more.

So a few minutes ago, I'm in the shop. My plan is to crack open the can, drain out about a third into the mason jar, drop a blank into the can, set it into my vac pot and get the job done.

I was pretty surprised when I reached for the can to find that it appeared to have pulled it's own vacuum. The normally round can was now hexagonal. I popped open the can to discover that the entire can full had turned solid. Strangely, the Ultraseal which remained in the original jug and the mason jar appears fine.

 

[RBoutin]

Ultraseal cannot be stored in metal cans-this accelerates catalyzation. Your container labels should state the following:

Storage​

Keep in cool, dry, ventilated storage. Store in original container; do not store in copper or its alloys, mild steel, or tin. Store below 68° F (20° C). Lower temperatures are preferred.

 

[sbell111]

Yeah. I figured that out.

 

[Dave38]

curing question

A little off topic, but Bob, can a microwave oven be used to cure the treated wood? Just wondering if that would do a better job with less guess work as to if the center of the wood reached the proper temp yet. Microwaves heat from the inside out, and therefore may take less time for curing, and be more thorough. Have your lab guys tried it yet, and if so what were the results?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Druid]

I had a bit of a different experience after having a "DOH" moment. Summertime in the shop that is in the garage (no AC). No fault of those who make Ultraseal, I personally like the product.

On this particular day I poured Ultraseal in a two gallon bucket that fit inside a 5 gallon bucket that sits in the vacuum chamber. I use a large elbow joint to weight the custom screen I made that holds the wood submerged. Just after allowing a short soaking period I get distracted, and end up with serious back pain in the backyard... needless to say I forgot about the batch in the chamber.

Three days later it occurred to me "DOH" , I went in opened the garage doors to vent the heat out. Opened the lid to the chamber and walla... a new product! Harder than a brick.

 

[RBoutin]

We tried microwaving test tube slugs with horrible results. Seemed like too much power. We thought it might be possible to microwave wood using a very low power microwave but haven't tried yet. I'm not with Ultraseal anymore so I can't speak for them anymore on what they might look at in the future.

Bob

A little off topic, but Bob, can a microwave oven be used to cure the treated wood? Just wondering if that would do a better job with less guess work as to if the center of the wood reached the proper temp yet. Microwaves heat from the inside out, and therefore may take less time for curing, and be more thorough. Have your lab guys tried it yet, and if so what were the results?
Thanks
Dave

 

[Dave38]

Thanks for the reply. I'll experiment with the quart I just ordered.
Dave

 

[snyiper]

Druid you could sell those as shop door stops!!! Polish it up real nice and all! If you had one there would be no need to open the shop to air it out.