Who could school me on stabilizing wood turning blanks? I have a small vacuum pump that I used in my old darkroom. I don’t know anything about it but I heard it’s a good thing to do with burl wood.
Only rumored, but it seems I remember discussions soaking in PEG. Some sort of glycol. May years ago, for all I know it was toxic and went away 30 years ago.
I'm willing to tell you what I know, if you want to come by the shop sometime.
I've done several sets of chisel handles and a several other pieces.
I probably have some pieces I can let you have to try turning if you like.
If you use the epoxy (2 part) talk to a boat supply. Out here, the locals use West products, but they use the kind for Bar-tops. Basically, it is a bit thinner and is slow cure (Like 4hrs to set). I think the cactus resin is heat activated.
I've used Cactus Juice for pecan (mallet) and redheart (pens and bottle stoppers). I use a Gast VP, an AL pressure cooker, and a $10 toaster oven from Goodwill. Also a couple of 2.5lb. weights to hod the wood under the juice.
I too would be interested in this topic! I have some turning blanks that I've begun to turn and found them to be too punky in areas. I'd like to stabilize them with epoxy, think of a hybrid turning blank. At this time I have the vacuum pump but no chamber. I'd most likely get one from Harbor Freight
This may end up being more than I want to take on. I plan to meet with Tony and learn from him, I watched everything on the bug juice website. My vacuum pump is not the right kind.
I’ll need $270 just for that. My bowl blanks are 18” cylinders that I’ll need to cut down. I need a big tank and lots of juice. That could be another $300 to $500… I think I would need to rough turn then bake the bowl blank to get it less than 5% moisture content before treatment. I’ll need a big oven.
Hmmm. I have pumps and an old pressure cooker.
My attic exceeds 110 ( fan temp). Higher without the fan. Wonder if it would serve as a large oven. I do use it to speed paint and poly cure time.
I was thinking of a very different application. Car wood. Both dashboard or possibly body frames.