Folx,
some may remember me as one of exceedingly rare DIY types. In addition to previously released videos on making of 72x2 grinder, heat treat oven, making of a knife etc, I am now working on DIY wood stabilization video.
Expect the video to be made available shortly, but for now will post my findings to this point:
- for vacuum pump, we now have great choices - from $15 air-compressor driven to $75 automotive (AC) pumps @ Harbor Freight . I got both - for a different purpose but now that I have them it helps
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98074
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677
- must have a vacuum gauge. Plenty are available, I am using one from ... Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92474
would work
- for vessel/container I use a stainless steel vacuum container ($18 for set of 4 @ Wmart, $22 for the same one @ Target). The tallest of 4 is just right.
http://www.target.com/Stainless-Ste...29?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:canisters&page=1
The jar is steel, the lid is plastic - both crucial for the following reasons:
- won't implode
- plastic is easier to drill
Another plus: the canister is a perfect cylinder - wide mouthed
- Plumbing - mostly 3/8 clear plastic tube from Lowes, with brass fittings, plastic T etc
- Hardener. For now it is Minwax Wood hardener. I will probably spring for a gallon of Nelsonite
- Wood. I got an excellent piece of maple burl. Eyes/swirls galore. $30-something. Cut it into assorted blocks, now I have enough handles for 30+ knives (compare to $20-something delivered per 1 pre-stabilized piece)
At this point I have a throwaway cutoff sitting inside of a plastic cup that in turn is inside of the container, pumped to 23" mercury. Bubbles galore are leaving the wood. Will wait till bubble action subsides, raise the pressure to atmospheric, let it sit like that and then test the penetration.
The one question I have - what dye can I use to color the wood ? Need brownish-reddish hue. Minwax has almost no color to it and the wood looks a bit bleak to me . Something (dry pigment) I can pickup at a local hobby shop ?
some may remember me as one of exceedingly rare DIY types. In addition to previously released videos on making of 72x2 grinder, heat treat oven, making of a knife etc, I am now working on DIY wood stabilization video.
Expect the video to be made available shortly, but for now will post my findings to this point:
- for vacuum pump, we now have great choices - from $15 air-compressor driven to $75 automotive (AC) pumps @ Harbor Freight . I got both - for a different purpose but now that I have them it helps
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98074
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677
- must have a vacuum gauge. Plenty are available, I am using one from ... Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92474
would work
- for vessel/container I use a stainless steel vacuum container ($18 for set of 4 @ Wmart, $22 for the same one @ Target). The tallest of 4 is just right.
http://www.target.com/Stainless-Ste...29?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:canisters&page=1
The jar is steel, the lid is plastic - both crucial for the following reasons:
- won't implode
- plastic is easier to drill
Another plus: the canister is a perfect cylinder - wide mouthed
- Plumbing - mostly 3/8 clear plastic tube from Lowes, with brass fittings, plastic T etc
- Hardener. For now it is Minwax Wood hardener. I will probably spring for a gallon of Nelsonite
- Wood. I got an excellent piece of maple burl. Eyes/swirls galore. $30-something. Cut it into assorted blocks, now I have enough handles for 30+ knives (compare to $20-something delivered per 1 pre-stabilized piece)
At this point I have a throwaway cutoff sitting inside of a plastic cup that in turn is inside of the container, pumped to 23" mercury. Bubbles galore are leaving the wood. Will wait till bubble action subsides, raise the pressure to atmospheric, let it sit like that and then test the penetration.
The one question I have - what dye can I use to color the wood ? Need brownish-reddish hue. Minwax has almost no color to it and the wood looks a bit bleak to me . Something (dry pigment) I can pickup at a local hobby shop ?
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