Drunken Wood

jhiggins

jhiggins

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Messages
3,258
Does wood drink? If it drinks does it get drunk? LOL just a funny observation while I was stabilizing some birdseye maple in Minwax wood hardener, I noticed it floated for a few days. Then I found it sunk to the bottom of the jar. I guess its reasonably safe to say its soaked up quite a bit of fluid.

This is my first chunk of birdseye. Looks good!
 
Hey Jeff,

Does the minwax stuff affect how it takes a stain after using it? Or do you stain it first?
 
Jeff,is that stuff is something new? And, where did you get it? Let us know how that works out when the wood sobers up, will you?
 
Mark: I don't do much staining, but I see no reason why a little dye or stain mixed in with the wood hardener wouldn't work.

John: Minwax Wood Hardener is what its called, and its been on the market a few years I think. I get mine right at the local hardware store. In simple terms, imagine plastic dissolved in lacquer thinner and thats essentially what it is. The water-thin consistency gets into the pores of the wood and soaks it up. When the wood dries, its preety tough and takes a nice shine if you want. Vacuum would really complete the process, but the vanes in my vac pump are shot.

The stuff lasts a good while if you keep it sealed tightly. I like to use it in a glass jar with a tight lid and pour it back into the original can when I am done. I'm fixing to get me some lab-quality glass jars with nice lids I can modify with the 3/8" barbed hose fittings so I can use my vacuum pump on them.
 
i've used the hardener on soft maple, turns it hard, figernail won't scratch it. I use ziploc bags, to cover the scales, You don't need as much that away. Wally world or home depot carries it. I don't have a vac pump but yeah that would speed it up.
 
Hey Sweany, it don't eat through the baggy? I was scared of that but if you say so, it must be true!
 
nope. it won't eat through. I don't leave it in there indefintely though. pour the excess back in the can when I'm done with the piece. use a new bag fopr the next one.
 
Min wax wood hardener has been around for a while. Check the back threads.
I use it on everything under vac until the wood stops bubbling.
Then under lite pressure for a day.
Helps a lot in controling shrinkage or growth due to humid weather.
Doesn't stop it but helps a lot.
MWWH turns a darker color the longer you use itor if you do some dark wood. I put some of the alkaloyd b 72 resin in it but haven't used a piece of that wood yet.
Take Care
TJ
 
How many days does it take most woods to stop bubbling under vaccuum? Bocote or Red herat in particualr, but a general idea of any would be fine. WOndering if I have time to try that stuff on these two knives.
 
WILL min wax wood hardener work on water buffalo horn. I thought they came stabalized but the shrank after putting them on a knife.
 
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