This sucks!

[PS_Bond]

Well, I *finally* put the finishing touches to my vacuum kit. One venturi vacuum pump from RS, 2 preserving jars (with metal lids - much easier to drill than glass), some hose and hose fittings epoxied through the lids.

Ran it with some soda water in the main jar, and dragged the pressure down with the pump. Switched off the valve and left it for 5 minutes. The system was still at negative pressure, so I had to bleed air back in to equalise.

Result: Half a jar of revoltingly flat soda water. Yay!? :rolleyes:

Next - pieces of wood...

[Colin KC]

Pics! Peter! Pics!

[shing]

Sounds good Peter, want are you good to use to stablise the wood?

[PS_Bond]

Soda water!

Oh, hang on...

Um - wood hardener?

Of course, it'll probably take me another 6 months before I've done enough experimentation to be satisfied with the penetration of the hardener into the wood... :rolleyes:

[PS_Bond]

Here it is so far...

[Colin KC]

Cool:D

[PS_Bond]

There's a couple of bits of acacia in there - took them out about an hour ago (after 24 hours under low pressure). Once they've dried off, I'll hack them up to see what the hardener penetration is like.

[Trond]

I am looking forward to see that Peter

[PS_Bond]

Well, I polished up the faces of the two cut slabs, and split the block I had soaking.

The larger rays (about 3mm long) in the wood have stayed void, but the smaller pores are all filled in both samples. Neither sample yielded to having a thumbnail dug into it - although the acacia was already pretty hard. No darkening of the wood when I put water onto it.

I put some Danish oil on both faces, and couldn't really see any penetration there either - it basically just sat on the surface. Gave a nice finish, though.

Anybody got any other suggestions for testing the stuff?

[Colin KC]

Try balsa wood;)

[PS_Bond]

OK... But who in their right mind wants stabilised balsa wood?

[Colin KC]

OK... But who in their right mind wants stabilised balsa wood?

Stabilise it good with some colour in it & I might;)

[PS_Bond]

Quod Erat Demonstrandum. :p

[Colin KC]

What will be demonstrated:confused:

[PS_Bond]

That no-one in their right mind... Ah fergetit...
:)

[Colin KC]

That no-one in their right mind... Ah fergetit...
:)

That wasn't a question, it wuz a translation (kinda, I think) & a non-comprehension kind of thingy :banghead:

[keith_beef]

OK... But who in their right mind wants stabilised balsa wood?

I was thinking

"who wants to spend time making acacia wood even harder? If that stuff's not hard enough already, pick a different wood"

Keith.

[PS_Bond]

The intention was less to harden it, more to fill the pores & make it more resistant.

I'm pleased to say it hasn't lost the lovely chatoyant effect it exhibited. Hmm, this could be the KITH handle material...