basswood

[v-6]

Anyone every stabilize basswood? If you did how did it turn out?
v-6

 

[orca8589]

I assume you'll use it for handles? You could, but I would think it would still be soft. A good penetrating finish would strengthen it, but I'm not sure how durable it would be for the long term.

A place called Helvie makes knives with basswood handles, so you can carve your own.

~Chris

 

[PB Wilson]

It's pretty bland wood in the looks department. Carves like a dream, but then you wouldn't want it stabilized. What's the project?

 

[uyotg]

Crazy guess, but since basswood is so soft and absorbent, wouldn't stabilizing it make it a very good performer? I assume that the strength of stabilized materials comes from the resin, so the more easily the material can get saturated, the better. Micarta and G10 are almost indestructible, but the commonly used hard woods, which have a tough time getting impregnated with resin, still crack along the grain when they're stabilized.