I’m not sure if this should go in finishing or in wood…
Ok, so I just scored big-time at the Springer Lumber going out of business sale – bought literally a ton of Big-leaf maple, spalted, quilted, birdseye, ribbon, you name it, they had it. And I had the horse trailer to haul it off in…. A lot of it was in book matched sets, and we plan to have it made up into cabinets for the current remodeling project. Some of the spalted stuff is just wild – psychedelic sixties flashback stuff, but some of it is quite spongy, and it will need to be massively stabilized before working. Also, I know that some of the quilted stuff will be a pain in the rear to sand. My cabinet maker is pretty good, but he is used to working with “normal” wood. Stuff he buys from the standard lumber stores, with some of the more plebian exotics, like brazilian cherry. I’m afraid that he won’t know how to handle this wildly figured wood, and I don’t want him throwing up his hands and chucking the lot into the firepit. So, obviously we aren’t going to be putting 5 foot long pieces into a vacuum chamber, but he does have a spray shop. What should we use as a stabilizer that won’t darken and yellow the wood, I would like to keep it as light (white) as possible.
Replies
When you say stabilize , do you mean how to stack and store it ?
Or Is it how to finish the wood after it has been made into whatever ?
dusty
I would be the first to admit that I am a novice at finishing. I have, however, been working with BLM quite a bit lately. I've run into lots of that spongy stuff of which you speak and found that simple shellac works rather well in stabilizing it. I have not tried anything else so don't have any comparison to offer. Shellac is easy, cheap and exceeded my expectations. I would at least try it on a piece (especially since you have a TON; you lucky so-and-so). LOL
Regards,
Mack
"Close enough for government work=measured with a micrometer, marked with chalk and cut with an axe"
Hello I use CA glue as a stabilizer for spalted woods. Ive not had any problems with finishing, but I am mainly a wood turner not a cabnet maker.
Good luck on your projects.
C.A.G.
Does shellac or cyanoacrylate darken the wood at all? Will it turn funny colors with age with either of those treatments?
Curtis,
CA is a good solution, but it gets pretty pricey when you start stabilizing boards.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
True
But Rockler and Woodcraft both sell large bottles of the CA glue. Besides normally the spongy part of the spalting wood is normally pretty small (compared to the hole board) If the rot is to advanced I say cut it out and throw it away.
I Like the look of spalted lumber! So I say if It can be saved , do so. but there is such a thing as common cents ($$$) ;-)
Good luck on your projects.C.A.G.
Thank you Curtis,
I even know where the local Rockler store is!
Barbara
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