Many people have a question about what "stabilized tree" means. This is a material that has undergone special processing and received additional decorative characteristics and strength, while the natural pattern remains unchanged.
Description
This type of processing is also often called conservation, which is quite reasonable, since the main task is to preserve and improve the qualities of wood. Obtaining such a result is possible by using a special substance that fills the pores and hardens. Resins, polymeric and paint-and-lacquer compositions, various oils have gained the greatest distribution.
Stabilized wood completely absorbs the coloring composition and acquires a new shade not only on the surface, but throughout the structure. There are various coloring options, from natural to bright tones.
Features
To obtain the proper result, thorough preparation and careful observance of all established rules are required. It's not easy on your owncreate the necessary level of pressure, vacuum and a certain temperature regime, but without these conditions, conservation becomes impossible.
First you need to choose the right workpiece. Most often, it is a material with beautiful overflows and structure, it can be various hardwoods: chestnut, elm, maple, birch.
A stabilized tree acquires the following properties:
- hardness;
- density;
- resistance to various oils and organic solvents;
- excellent decorative performance;
- stabilized wood retains its properties even when heated by an open flame.
Impregnation
This step can be done by various methods:
- High pressure stabilization. To do this, the selected container is filled with the composition into which the workpiece is immersed. Then the container is placed in a special chamber in which increased pressure is formed. The principle of action is that air is pushed out of the workpiece, and the vacant space is filled with mortar.
- Vacuum way. The material is placed in a chamber, from which air is subsequently pumped out, and it also exits from the workpieces. So the solution easily stains capillaries and empty pores.
- Hot impregnation. The wood is boiled or soaked in special compounds. The products used are characterized by liquefaction when heated, due to which it is significantlyincreases fluidity and filling quality.
- Cold impregnation is best for thin workpieces.
Polymerization
This process completes the processing and is carried out by drying the products at the required temperature. The stabilized wood for the handles acquires new characteristics that give it a resemblance to polymeric materials, it also changes its shade and weight. At the same time, the quality of the fibers remains at the same level, they additionally fix the solution used in processing, due to which a noble and elegant appearance of the entire workpiece is formed. It is worth noting that some of the products used at this stage are self-hardening.
How to stabilize wood for a knife handle
The processed material is suitable for creating various crafts and crafts. Most often it is used in the manufacture of exclusive handles for knives.
One of the popular preservation compounds is "Anacrol-90", the pour point of which is within 90 degrees. For work, a vacuum installation is required, it can be made from the following parts: pressure gauge, compressor, vacuum pump, several tubes, large plastic containers. Subsequently, the stabilized wood is dried in a special oven; in its absence, you can use an air grill or oven.
The thickness of the material used should notexceed 3-4 cm, this is necessary for high-quality impregnation of the workpiece.
The wooden plate is placed in a container with a solution, while it must be completely covered with anacrol. A vacuum is created until no more air bubbles escape.
Next, high pressure is created, the composition must first settle for half an hour. The pressure level should reach 2-4 atm, for this you need to use a pump and a compressor. The process must be repeated after 40 minutes. Actions are carried out until the product sinks in water. In this case, there is no doubt about the high-quality impregnation of the workpiece.
Then do-it-yourself stabilized wood is thoroughly dried at a temperature of about 100 degrees. After it should be free of raw spots. Such processing gives a greater density to the material and improves the quality of polishing. Non-standard tint patterns can be obtained by adding various pigments to the composition. Also today you can find on sale ready-made solutions that have a variety of shades.
Epoxy resin application
This method is similar to anacrol preservation, the main difference being its replacement with epoxy mixed with alcohol. The latter is used to improve the quality of impregnation. Working with resin requires patience, as it takes a long time to polymerize to the desired state. There are many different solutions based on epoxy resin. stabilized tree forhandles resulting from the application of this highly fluid compound has the best characteristics.
