Osage Roost

General Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: firedup on July 26, 2013, 09:06:22 PM

Title: wood stabilization
Post by: firedup on July 26, 2013, 09:06:22 PM

I have talked to a few of you about my little DYI project.  Constructing a simple and cheap home built wood stabilization system.  This is all still in trial but... I found a medical vaccum pump for $10 and a flea market pressure cooker for $5 (and probably coulda got em cheaper  :D).  A few dollars in air fittings, some I already had.  My guage and dial for the pressure side of things was a whole $6.  So, for about $30 I rigged up a system which allows me to do small pieces.  The process is to vaccum the wood to pull out all air for a period and to begin pulling stabilizing material into the wood.  Then I switch to a pressure side and put the wood under pressure to push the material into the wood.  Dont have a clue about time and rate but I figure that will work out in time. I can switch from vaccum to pressure with out any air getting back into the system.  For my first trial I choose to use miniwax wood hardener.  Mostly because it is available locally.  So here are some pics.

I started with a container within the pressure cooker to contain the fluid.  2 pieces of crotch butternut and 1 piece of cherry burl in one full can /pint of hardener.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/photo2_zps655119ce.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ltpack/media/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/photo2_zps655119ce.jpg.html)
minwax product.  Pours like water so its pretty thin to start
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/photo3_zpsf11dc017.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ltpack/media/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/photo3_zpsf11dc017.jpg.html)
The system in functional condition.
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/333photo1_zpsc85e50fc.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ltpack/media/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/333photo1_zpsc85e50fc.jpg.html)
Results after 24 hours of vaccum and pressure are the next pics. Notice that there is very little hardener left.  Some bled off as gas but I think most went into the wood. And the final product.  It will need to dry beofre cutting.  But we shall soon see how it worked. ;D
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/222photo2_zps9b850371.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ltpack/media/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/222photo2_zps9b850371.jpg.html)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/22222photo3_zps67c80ebe.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ltpack/media/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/22222photo3_zps67c80ebe.jpg.html)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/222photo4_zpsf5d17a65.jpg) (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/ltpack/media/homw%20built%20wood%20stabilization/222photo4_zpsf5d17a65.jpg.html)

Title: Re: wood stabilization
Post by: ghost5 on July 27, 2013, 07:31:21 AM

Great project  *up* *up*. If you look online for cactus juice that is what I would suggest using. They have videos on youtube showing it being used in a vac chamber. Once it is in the wood you activate it with heat for 15 minutes and it is ready to use no drying time.

Got to say I wish I had your setup I have a bunch of blanks here that need to be stabilized.

Title: Re: wood stabilization
Post by: firedup on July 27, 2013, 04:31:11 PM

All the pics are upside down?  Mystery. Ghost, I have looked at Cactus Juice and want to fine tune the system first.  Cactus juice is supposed to be reusable too.  This min wax doesn't appear to be.  If this system works I will probably redesign and upgrade at some point. Mostly just playing around with an idea.

Title: Re: wood stabilization
Post by: ghost5 on July 27, 2013, 04:47:47 PM

I am on several woodworking forums and everyone of the guys that are good at this use cactus juice. I have seen it work on some really crappy material. When I can I plan to start using it I have too many nice blanks sitting here I can't use right now.

Title: Re: wood stabilization
Post by: mgbuck34 on July 27, 2013, 05:58:26 PM

You need to keep the wood covered untill  you take the pressure off or will push air back into it.

Title: Re: wood stabilization
Post by: Skeeter on July 27, 2013, 07:02:36 PM

THERES A GUY THAT MAKES THESE STABILIZING TANKS ,
IF YA GO TO YOUTUBE AND HE SHOWS STEP BY STEPS ON HOW TODO THIS

http://m.youtube.com/channel/UCiJBtsbjntqlFn601juCwSQ

Title: Re: wood stabilization
Post by: Gobbler Commander on July 29, 2013, 09:25:53 AM

Your a smart man you will figure it all out and have nice set up .I have a small piece of Cal redwood burl from Earl Mickel you can practice on *lol*