Wood is prone to environmental changes such as temperature, moisture, winds, etc.

Due to environmental changes wood tends to crack, decay, warp and damage.

Also due to said changes wood tends to decrease its dimensional stability and strength.

This happens because wood is attempting to match the environmental changes.

As this is a natural process, wood splitting, warping, cracking cannot be totally prevented.

However, this process can be slow down by applying wood stabilisers.

Wood cracking

Splits and cracks occur when wood shrinks as it dries. Wood shrinks roughly twice as much along the growth rings as it does across the rings and it is this uneven shrinkage that causes cracks to develop.

Splits and cracks in wood are ruptures or separations in the grain of the wood which reduce the quality as measured by appearance, strength, or utility.

Why Wood warps

There’s a gain or loss of moisture content  

Dimensional stability

It is the extent to which a given material resists changes in dimension with variations in environmental factors.  Wood, however, although little affected by changes in temperature, changes considerably in volume (shrinks and swells) with variations in moisture content.  Wood if green or dry is soaked in wood stabilisers for  an appropriate period then  wood does not shrink appreciably when dried. Equally important, wood thus treated and then dried swells very little when exposed again to high humidity.

Wood stabilisation

Wood stabilization is a system of impregnating wood with chemicals to form a hard and tough surface.  Stabilized wood is generally easier to turn, sand, and polish than unstabilized wood, particularly spalted and punky woods.  Stabilizing enhances grain appearance, increases water-resistance, and the increased hardness helps resist scuffing and scratching.

Wood products change and warp depending upon the temperature and humidity. If you want to reduce the chances of this happening, you can stabilize the wood with chemical treatments. Doing  this will add weight and harden.

Product Introduction

Woodstab 919 is high Performance Wood stabilizer quick drying liquid formulated to strengthen and reinforce decayed or rotting wood.

Woodstab 919 penetrates deeply in to the wood and binds and reinforces the decayed wood fibres.

Woodstab 919 great performance wood stabiliser seals wood from further cracking, warping or damaging.

Woodstab 919 increases dimensional stability of the wood.

How Woodstab 919 works

Woodstab 919 enters the fine structure of the wood by diffusion, thus application of pressure is of little value. The large molecules of the chemical displace the natural moisture in the microscopic, lattice-like structure of the wood- fibre walls.  The wood is permanently restrained from shrinking, swelling, or warping regardless of atmospheric humidity.

Application

For best results, wood should be wet as in its green state.

 If the surface of the wood has dried out then wet surface thoroughly by soaking or wrapping in a wet towel for several hours.

 Use Woodstab 919 at room temperature. Shake well before use and read directions completely.

 There are two methods for application of Woodstab 919.

 Brush application on the wood The brushing method is most preferable if the wood is to be carved over a period of time.

 To dip the wood in the solution

 The dipping method is recommended for small items that are to be carved in a short period of time.

BRUSHING APPLICATION

 After carving is finished for the day, brush on repeated coats of

Woodstab 919 until the wood will no longer absorb anymore.

Next, wrap the carving in a dampened cloth and cover with plastic.

Repeat process after each day’s carving.

When carving is completed, periodically apply coatings of Woodstab 919 again, until the wood will no longer absorb anymore.

End grain areas require more applications of stabilizer due to higher absorption.

DIPPING METHOD

The dipping method is recommended for small pieces that are to be carved in a short period of time. Also it may be used to for larger items.

Keep in mind that the wood must be damp before it is dipped in solution. Place carved piece in a plastic, fiber glass or glass container.

Do not use metal containers.

Entire piece of the wood be dipped in solution Do not dilute Woodstab 919 with water or anything as it is ready to use.

The time required for dipping is 24 hours for each inch of thickness. After soaking the specified drain and proceed to drying.

Example: If the wood thickness is ½ inch then the time required for dipping is 12 hours and for 2 Inch thickness it is 48 hours.

Woodstab 919 absorbs through the wood.

Pl. note that time of dipping depends on the wood species, density of the wood, size and thickness of the wood.

Woodstab 919 penetrates in wood approximately 1.5 cm of end grain per 60 seconds.

When using the brushing or spraying method, keep applying until the wood can no longer absorb anymore. In between applications, the wood should be wrapped in plastic to prevent evaporation of the moisture and humidity. The moisture in the wood helps the penetration of material. Keep in mind that most of the absorption is through the end grain.

DRYING

Drying time varies depending on relative humidity, temperature, and type of wood and size.

Ideal drying conditions are 25 to 30 Celsius with relative humidity at 40-60%.

Do not dry in direct sunlight, extreme or direct heat, nor under 30% or over 70% relative humidity whenever possible.

There is no way to give a specific answer to drying time.

Drying time differs depending on the temperature, humidity, type of wood, and its thickness. If the piece is a turning that is finished thin, then it may be dry enough to finish in 5 to 7 days. If the piece is a carving that is large, it may take 6 to 7 months to completely dry.

Finishing

When the wood is completely dry, clean the surface with a mineral solvent.

Before staining or finishing, make sure surface is clean and dry.

Wood treated with Woodstab 919 can be finished with conventional finishes. Urethane varnishes, water borne varnishes, lacquers, tung oil, linseed oil, and waxes can be used.

Wood can also be stained with dyes or oil stains.

Key factors to be noted that  to be sure that the wood has thoroughly dried and to clean the surface of the wood with mineral spirits, acetone, or lacquer thinner before finishing. Dyes or pigments can be added to the solution .

Gluing

 Several widely available high-quality glues do work well. Among them are two-component waterproof resorcinol and epoxy glues of various brands.

The hobbyist’s old standby, the urea-resin type, also works well, but is not quite as resistant to water. For best results it is important to use

Wood treated with Woodstab 919 can be glued. Cynoacrylate and epoxies can be used for wood treated with Woodstab 919.

It is important to clean surface with mineral solvents before gluing.

Trial of glue application is highly recommended.

Coverage

The amount of Woodstab 919 depends upon the type of wood. For very dense grained hardwoods, it will take as little as 30 to 40 ml per board foot and for very soft open grained wood, it will take as much as 200 to 250 ml per board foot.

Woodstab 919 does not always have to be absorbed all the way through the wood to be effective. Some woods that are quite stable may only require several coatings to the end grain, while other woods with wild grain, tension, or those that are unstable such as fruitwoods, require full saturation. Woodstab 919 will allow moisture to pass through it. The individual user will have to determine whether or not to completely saturate the wood .

Too much solution is not required to be applied. The wood will absorb just so much. Any excess can be cleaned off the surface.

Pl. note that if you are applying by dipping method any solution left over in the dipping tank can be reused.

SALIENT FEATURES

 The wood will turn and carve easier because materials also acts as a lubricant until dry.

Woodstab 919 will stabilize rotted or spalted wood. However, it will not harden soft areas.

Woodstab 919 reduces the shrinkage by 1-2%. Distortion is also significantly reduced.

In some types of wood, this could cause darkening. Any color change is now insignificant.

Not to be used on items intended for use with food.

Precautions

Keep out of reach from children and fire.

Not for human consumption.













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