DIY Wood Stabilize System?

[Mad Max]

Show is what it looks like after cutting Limb pads off

[Crooked Stic]

Max all the maple I have done penetrates all the way thru. There are exceptions where the wood is very dense. A lot of times color gets between the growth rings and looks pretty cool .

[Mad Max]

 

[Crooked Stic]

This is a very interesting piece of maple. Some ambrosia and dense spots but the color does get thru it.

[Tim Finley]

curly maple and birdseye can really look good after impregnating .I used the brown dye and doubled the amount recommended , i really got some pretty wood . I didnt make any last year but had the pump going most of the summer in past years. Cactus juice will only make the wood a little stronger than it was before the process You need to have the wood very dry I bought an old oven at a auction sale and that's what I cured the juice with after the vacuum.
  I used to send the wood off to a place in PA and they did a great job then to a place in Iowa I only got back part of my wood and it was all done in clear acrylic when I ordered brown I got ripped off. Big Horn bows had all their bows impregnated they must have done it themselves

[Crooked Stic]

I am with you on it makes the wood a little bit stronger. I think some of the others use epoxy for stabilizing. The cactus juice in my opinion does just that stabilize and dye if you choose

[Jeff Freeman]

WOW that's gorgeous Mike 🤩

[Crooked Stic]

Thanks. There is two like that both belong to husband and wife.

[Mad Max]

Nice stic

[onetone]

Stic, that riser is really fine!

[Crooked Stic]

Thanks everyone.
I just need to find some more maple like that.

[Jeff Freeman]

Maybe Bell Forest Hardwoods. JF

[knuklhed]

Just noticed this, I haven't been hanging around as much as I'd like. I'm just starting to dip my toes into stabilizing for knife scales, and here's what I've come up with (plus putting a better temp controller on a toaster oven). I am hoping the diaphragm pump will get me down far enough to do a decent job. Hope this helps the OP.

[knuklhed]

Bah! Don't know why the pic got rotated, it is vertical on the 'puter, any moderators around to straighten me out? Thanks!!

[Crooked Stic]

My curing box is plywood with two 200 watt bulbs and a 195 snap disc from Grainger. And can put a timer on it if wanted.

[Kirkll]

Thanks everyone.
I just need to find some more maple like that.

Is that curly or Hard maple?....Looks like curly figuring. That blue dye is kinda cool looking.

[Crooked Stic]

I bought it as hard maple

[Mad Max]

Curly and Hard Maple both have the same Janka Hardness 1450 and Specific gravity .72 on Bell forest Products

EDIT I just saw Curly soft maple is .63 and 950 on Bell forest.

So curly Maple, Curly soft Maple and Hard Maple

[Mad Max]

I really like African Blackwood but hard to find and big $ now days.

I wonder how BLACK you could get it in the Vacuum chamber Stic.?????????

[Crooked Stic]

Is it oily?