Wood stabilization?

[roldogg]

What types of woods should be stabilized before using the wood as a knife handle? I’ve normally only stabilized woods that are spalted and would crumble if anyone tried to work with it. I just got my hands on some burl, which feels very dense and seems workable as is. Is there any benefit to stabilize any type of wood or just the woods that need some stability before trying to cut it?

 

[Craig James]

Stabilisation involves the injection of various polymers, resins etc. into the matrix to increase dimensional stability, usually by preventing water ingress which can promote dimensional change.
As a natural material material all woods can suffer from this, although woods such as ebony not to as great a degree due to their density.

In answer to your question, a fully cured wood with a moisture retentive barrier would be inherently stable, if not then the work required to stabilise a wood would be beneficial