Stabilizing pine

S

Steve Beckwith

Joined
May 29, 2004
Messages
393
I have access to some pine driftwood that has been riddled with holes by marine worms that I would like to have stabilized then fill the worm holes with a colored epoxy and use it for handle slabs. My question is will having the wood stabilized make the wood harder? This stuff looks like Swiss cheese so I think that the material that is used for stabilization would be able to completely penetrate the wood but if it doesn't harden up the pine then I don't think this would work very well. Also, who does custom wood stabilizing? Thanks, Steve B
 
Yes, it will make the wood harder...and heavier. Wash the wood and then dry the wood well for a long time to get the moisture content below 10%. Cut it into oversized blocks ( about 25% bigger than you want). Send it to K&G to be stabilized.
 
Question to Bladsmth, will the wormholes become filled during the stabilization process or will they come out as voids still?
 
Good question. Actually, if the worm holes are filled solid I think I could get a nice effect be using a colored spacer material. I am going to send a couple pieces off for treatment and take my chances. If this stuff looks as good as I hope it does I have access to a pile of it. A friend has been collecting drift wood for more than 20 years. He makes picture frames with it and has a lot of drops. Thanks for the replies, S
 
Perrin - No, the worm holes will not be filled with that process. You'll still have to deal with the voids.

-Peter
 
It will depend on the size of the holes. I have some madrone that was stabilized by KandG and it came out really good. The few smaller worm holes did get filled nicely. These were ones that were under 1/8inch diameter. The larger inclusions and what not may not get filled from my past experience.
 
Thanks Bigblue17. Since the edges of the holes should be hard I bet it would make for a nice texture if the holes are the right size and distribution. Living in a hardwood forest (Danial Boone National Forest), I often see worm and insect riddled wood but never thought to stabilize it. Of course I wouldn't have thought to stabilize pine cones and corn cobs either and saw both for sale while shopping for handle material earlier.
 
No, they were just like black spots or lines. No time tonight but I can try to get a pic of one of them to show ya. Ill try to remember tomorrow.
 
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