Stabilizing Wood

[old_engineer]

I tripped over my old laboratory vacuum pump as I was cleaning out the shop and I got to wondering if it might be worth the effort to impregnate some of the ebony and coco bolo I have for use as knife scales. Some specific questions are:

- How much vacuum do you have to draw? I can get about 1 atmosphere if memory serves.

- How much pressure is then required to force the goop into the wood? The same pump can be used for positive pressure (1 atmosphere), or I can rig my compressor.

- What is the recommended stabiizing medium?

I'm sure this has been hashed over before, but I couldn't find a search link.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Harry Jensen]

#1---
The woods you mentioned do not need stabilizing. They are some of the densest, and are naturally impregnated with oils.

As for stabilizing medium, there are several which are used, such as Deft, 50/50 polyurethane/thinner,one of the many penetrating sealers sold for furniture use, methyl methacrylate, etc. Whichever medium you choose, make certain it is alcohol or acetone based, & not water based. Water is what you are trying to eliminate by drawing the vacuum in the first place.
You also want the medium as thin as possible.
As for vac, Dr. Jim Hrisoulas told me he gets by with a minimum of 24"HG, & 40 psi (IIRC), but I try for 28"HG & 40psi. Time in vac/pressure depends on the viscosity of the medium, the density of the wood,the temp, and the pressures you are able to maintain. I shoot for 3 days each, and my chamber is painted black and out in the sun.
Hope this helps,
Harry Jensen