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stabilizing checked wood with resin

1/19/14       
Michael Singer Member

Website: http://www.msfinewoodworking.com

Hi - I'm hoping someone can give me some guidance on choosing a resin to stabilize a highly checked slab of redwood so it can be sliced into boards. My preference would be something that has low viscosity/high penetration, and cures hard enough to slice 1" panel material and/or 2" table/bench slabs off these 9-10" thick slabs.

Thanks.


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1/19/14       #2: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Bruce H

Some years ago someone was making a "plasticized wood" by placing it in a pressure vessel and forcing resin throughout the pours. That most likely isn't going to be practical for this application.

I'd coat it with epoxy, filling as much as possible and then cutting a slab. Coat the bottom and recoat the top and then cut, repeating until the slab is used up. This isn't going to be fast or cheap as waiting until the epoxy cures will take time not to mention that epoxy is more than a hundred dollars a gallon.

On something not as checked as this piece and where I don't have to "glue" it together I use polyester resin. It's less expensive but doesn't necessarily have gluing properties.

1/20/14       #3: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
mark

I'm not a turner, so perhaps someone with more info on the process can step in. My understanding is that turners soak large chunks of material in fast CA glue to hold it all together for machining. Not sure on brands, time in the soak, or time drying. Epoxy won't do it for you unless it's really thin, maybe cpes, but I doubt it.

1/20/14       #4: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Bruce H

OP says he is cutting into slabs and not turning. CA doesn't fill a gap with any strength, epoxy will. Large pockets of CA don't set very well, (as in the checks of this slab) epoxy is a chemical reaction and a known set time based on temperature. Thin epoxy is no problem.

1/20/14       #5: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Michael Singer Member

Thanks for the responses. Bruce, your response was sort of the crux of my question - would polyester resin be strong enough to let me slice it. Sounds like not, in your experience. Any product recommendations on a thin epoxy?

1/20/14       #6: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Bruce H

I live on the beach in a fishing community so would get it al the local marine supply. West System is good and there are other brands. I'd do a Google search, you'd get a better price. Jamestown Distributors would also be a source. It can be made thicker using micro balloons and I have colored it using paint pigment. Not sure of that weakens the bond or not.

Polyester would be available in any auto parts store, you might try it. It's local and cheap and you could pour on some today as opposed to waiting for freight.

1/21/14       #7: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Rich C.

Stabilizing resin will fill the cells of the wood, but not "glue" the cracks together. Look for Cactus Juice as a stabilizing resin, but I think you will have to use a thin polyester resin to cast it after slicing. All the methods are going to take a hard vacuum to pull the fluids through the cracks. Might just have a slab of firewood there. Give Curtis a call at TurnTex.

cactus juice

1/21/14       #8: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Rich C.

Forgot to mention, the wood needs to be bone dry to stabilize as you have to bake it to set the resin. That's going to take a big oven to bake the resin dry. Sorry!

1/21/14       #9: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Michael Singer Member

Thanks for the tip, Rich. That Cactus Juice sounds like a cool product, but as you say, these slabs are way too big for any practical vacuum or oven setup. I'm going to try a 2-part epoxy. If that doesn't work, resawing just might not be in the cards.

We'll see ....

1/21/14       #10: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Tom Diel

Website: http://thomasdiel.com/

I have used Abatron's Liquid Wood two-part. No VOC's but is not a quick set. I have built damn edge out of modeling putty and let it seep through. Available through Klingspor Wood Working Shop. Used on knotty slabs working from bottom side and CA glued MDF backup boards but it penetrates the MDF and grind it away after curing. Goes everywhere there is a void so replenish until set takes 3-4hrs depending on temp.

http://http://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/ab30000/

1/22/14       #11: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Mark Member

Website: http://www.americanrattan.com/

the particular timber has to be cuboid dry out for you to stabilize seeing that you should cook the item to create the particular resin. That is going to please take a large oven for you to cook the particular resin dry out.

1/29/14       #12: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Johnny

Just curious what the provenance on the wood in question would be ? Depending on your usage and or expected outcomes an alternate material such as unchecked wood
could save a lot of time and money . Looks like a fair chunk of fire wood if nothing else .

1/29/14       #13: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Michael Singer

Yeah, some of the pieces certainly have firewood potential, but the they're from a large "round" my client's late husband cut many years ago that she wants to try to make some memento furniture pieces. So its worth the effort so try to get some usable lumber out of them. Some of them might also end up as sculptures in their more or less intact form.

1/29/14       #14: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Bruce H

Michael, I know about that sort of thing. I just finished a casket made from a tree planted by the clients husband some fifty years ago. I scavenged their basement for other materials also used.

1/29/14       #15: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
mark

Ouch; that slab was a monster! Too bad the job didn't allow for making a real table out of it. Nice website, Michael.

1/29/14       #16: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
Michael Singer

Thanks, Mark. Yeah, if only it hadn't sat out in the rain for a dozen years.

3/12/15       #17: stabilizing checked wood with resin ...
markbattles Member

Website: http://v-dubfurniture.com

Coat the bottom and recoat the top and then cut, repeating until the slab is used up. This isn't going to be fast or cheap as waiting until the epoxy cures will take time not to mention that epoxy is more than a hundred dollars a gallon.


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