Any Help?

[Don Kawalek]

I have some spalted maple that I want to use for pens. I tried using the minwax wood hardener. I even borrowed the science teacher's vacuum chamber to experiment with. I first did the blanks and then drilled the hole and then used the vacuum chamber again. There must be a better way to stabilize the stuff. Any suggestions???
Don

 

[john lucas]

I just soak it in lacquer that has been thinned 50/50 with lacquer thinner. It takes several coats. to harden it if it's really punky.
Most of the problems with punky maple can be remedied with a sharp tool, higher speed on the lathe and don't force the gouge to cut. If your using a scraper then good luck, punky wood doesn't like to be scaped.

 

[AlanZ]

Don,

It's been a while since I built my octave mandolin during your great workshop.

I have a small stabilization setup that uses "Cactus Juice", but I have been waiting to try it out.

If you send me some samples, it would be my pleasure to stabilize some blanks for you.

In your words "we can fix this!"

I hope all is well with you and yours.

 

[Chris Dinsmore]

Two Option

Two options I use depending on size of blank. I turn quite a bit of Spalted Maple, while beautiful it is easy to spalt it to much and get punky wood.

1) Thin CA Glue, apply it all over the blank and let it cure for 15 minutes. This is also a great way to stabilize tenons on punky bowl blanks.

2) Pentacryl Wood Stabilizing solution is good for larger blanks that need to be stabilized. It is pretty pricey though, so make sure the blank is north it!

 

[dkulze]

There's no easy way to stabilize it. You basically have to choose any of about a dozen options to "plasticize" the wood. If you're not too worried about little bubbles, the soaking it in CA, pentacrys, wood hardner, or laquer options are the simplest. If you're wanting pristine pens, the vacuum chamber and thin epoxy is the best (such as if you were doing a large number to make pens for sale).

 

[Steve Worcester]

cactus juice.
Don't drill it first, has to be bone dry, have to have a vaccuum chamber.