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Novice Wood Treatment Question

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Novice Wood Treatment Question

#1

Novice Wood Treatment Question

Randy in Langley

>I have a number (~20) of spalted and some punky pieces of silver maple that were just milled. The "group" of us decided not to send these 9/4 slabs to the kiln for drying, so I have cut them up in to 12" x 12" x 2 1/4" chunks for turning platters and such.

I bought a bottle of Polycryl today with the intentions of reinforcing the wood fibers for turning.

What would you do with these pieces? Would you cut them all in to 12" round turning blanks and treat them with Polycryl? Would you leave them square? Would you go through the alcohol soak process? Would you use PEG?

Any input and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Re: Novice Wood Treatment Question

#2

Not a fan of Polycryl.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi Randy,

I tried Polycryl when I first started turning and I didn't find it to be very effective in hardening punky wood. And the finished pieces stink IMHO. I ran across some blanks I roughed out 4 years ago and they still smell. Alcohol will not help stiffen the wood fibers. If I were going to do some thing with the wood I would rough out the bowls and dry them before applying a binder to stiffen the punky wood. You will find that most things do not penetrate very deeply and turn away quickly and will need to be reapplied as you go. Mileage may very and other people may get different results.

Dave Smith

Now I have to get back to work in Longview, WA.

Re: Novice Wood Treatment Question

#3

Re: Not a fan of Polycryl.

Wally

>Great site!

I'm also a novice, what do you suggest as a binder?

Re: Novice Wood Treatment Question

#4

Leo Van Der Loo

Re: Novice Wood Treatment Question

Leo Van Der Loo

>Randy I have the same experience as Dave with the stuff, have a bottle of it still sitting in my hazardus material cabinet, used it, didn't like it, have a vase form still sitting on a shelf in the shop for more than 5 years, it still stinks and feels yucky greasy.

If you are a new turner, I would leave the blanks as is and dry them, then when you have more experience you will be able to make square platters or round. Might not need anything but a sheering cut or maybe just some spots treated, don't be in a hurry.

Have fun and take care.

Leo V