Does stabilized wood need to be sealed with tung oil or something similar? Bought some sabilized redwood scales from TKS and it started raining while I was outside sanding. The drops hit the wood and sucked the water right in making dark spots which surprised me. Dried out to normal color but now I wonder if it needs to be sealed to keep oils,fat and blood from staining the nicely figured wood. A drop of linseed oil on a cut off piece turned the wood very dark and it stayed that way. If it does need sealed what's the best to keep the natural light look and not get all dark?
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Stabilized wood?
- Thread starter Martin S.
- Start date
I've never seen stabilized wood act the way you're describing. In all the stabilized stuff I've handled water just beads up and runs off of it. If it were me I'd check with TKS and see who does their stabilization so that you can contact them and ask about how to properly treat their product.
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- Nov 25, 2000
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Stabilizing does not seal the wood completely. It just infuses acrylic type resins into the wood fibers. Stabilized wood will suck up water. You will notice this if placed in a marked container of water and let set for a minute. The water level will be reduced. The thing is, it won't hold the water. Set it on another surface and the water will run out.
Anyway...........I always applied a couple of coats of Watco neutral to a finished stabilized handle. It seems to enhance the color and depth. Just use it according to directions. It sure can't hurt. I'd buff it afterwards.
Anyway...........I always applied a couple of coats of Watco neutral to a finished stabilized handle. It seems to enhance the color and depth. Just use it according to directions. It sure can't hurt. I'd buff it afterwards.