"stablizing" with oil?

Kumdo

Kumdo

Joined
Mar 7, 2000
Messages
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There was a thread a few weeks ago talking about using Minwax Antique Oil to stabilize wood. My question is can using Tung, Watco or Minwax oil be sufficiant in keeping handles relatively safe from cracking? The other thread talked about using a vacuum chamber, and I'd like to know how effective that is, as well as just letting the (dried) wood soak up as much oil as it will take.

Thanks in advance...
 
I believe the post you are referring to talked about MinWax Wood Hardener, not oil.

I am now using this mixed with some other things to stabalize some of my woods.

This does NOT fill the pores like the regular stbalizing services do, but it strengthens the wood cells and makes them stronger and much less prone to cracking and/or shrinking.

Let us know how you do with your test?

Thanks,
Dave
 
He was talking about my post Dave. Yes I used the antique oil and it worked well. It also has poly in it so I expect it worked a little better than tung oil would. Tung oil will work ok but it will not be as water tight as other types of wood finishes. The thing that makes the vacume/soak method worth while is the finish gets in the wood instead of on the surface. Give it a try and see, sure won't hurt anything. I'm not sure you gain anything by vacume sealing. I also weight wood down in a jar or tub of whatever. The idea is to keep the whole thing covered with liquid.

Now using a vacume jar, that's another matter. It forces the liquid into the wood.
 
Aha! I was wondering if I had to resort to sending out my burls for the pricey stabilizing process. I've made a couple of handles out of Buckeye burl that I just Watco-ed the heck out of. I think it's pretty safe out here in the desert, but I'm wondering how it would fare in more extreme, wet weather. Basically, I'm looking to find a reasonable solution. Unfortunately, it's difficult to tell if the antique oil is "effective" until it's too late. Hmmmm....
 
I remember watching a knife making vido, can't remember who's right now, about soaking in boiled linsead oil. I rehandled a kitchen knife a couple of years ago and soaked the handle in the linsead oil for a couple of days.
I put the completed knife in a plastic bag and covered the handle, some scrap black walnut, with the oil for a few days.
My wife and I have been using the paring knife with no special care with no problems. Worked for me.
Lynn
 
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