wood fiber hardener

[NormanAlbert]

Hi Guys: I've discovered a neat product at my local Ace Hardware. It's name is " PC-Petrifier" It's a liquid the hardens wood fibers, such as in slightly rotted areas or you just want to harden some soft wood for cleaner sharper v carving. I rough cut without it down to about .10 inch and saturate the wood and let cure overnight. The next day the fibers cut so much cleaner for the finish cut. Try it, you'll like it. Norm

[Beltramidave]

Interesting. Just read reviews for this stuff on HD website, has very good reviews. Pretty much everybody was painting afterwords. Any idea how this would stain afterwards? My guess is that it would prevent the stain from taking.

Think I might have to get some and try it on some basswood carving as it seems to be too soft to hold detail.

Thanks for the tip.

[JoeM]

A wash coat of thinned shellac works very well too.

[scottp55]

Decent luck here with a thinned Lacquer wash as well for tearout prevention on brittles.
Recently had a punky Spalted Maple question on Shopbot forum that was interesting, so I'll toss it in.
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showth ... lted-Maple
scott

[Beltramidave]

Thanks for more interesting ideas!

[ohiococonut]

Minwax also sells a wood hardener for punky wood. I've used it many times for stabilizing pen blanks in a vacuum chamber so it's saturated all the way through.

[NormanAlbert]

Hi: I like the vacuum idea. Maybe a heavy plastic sheet over the work with a vacuum port so as to not move the job after rough cut. Gotta work on that idea. Thanks Norm

[ChrisInEstes]

Thanks for the info on PC-Petrifier... I like that it's waterborne... I'll get a quart and try it.

I've used Minwax's wood hardener with success, but it sure is stinky & sticky.

Chris

[rscrawford]

Hi: I like the vacuum idea. Maybe a heavy plastic sheet over the work with a vacuum port so as to not move the job after rough cut. Gotta work on that idea. Thanks Norm

Just be careful that the hardener doesn't seep down into your spoilboard - the vacuum will suck it right through the spoilboard (will ruin the spoilboard for vacuuming purposes!)

[Ms Wolffie]

We have a similar product here.
It is actually meant to harden rotten wood.
I do not know whether it works on healthy wood.

[dhellew2]

I too have use Minwax wood hardener with success.
It is a resin product.
I don't know how it would be if used with water based paint but is compatible with lacquer and oil based paints. It leaves a semi-gloss finish.
Thinned with acetone it makes a good sealer to prep wood for laser engraving. I soak the wood in it so it penetrates deep giving a uniform laser engraving.
Dale