How To Stabilize Wood Easily - A Step-by-Step Guide

[@JakeThompson]

Frequently Asked Questions about wood stabilizing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2Sle6yvm5V1g7s

[@kurtbogle2973]

Thanks, I just bought some Cactus Juice and a vaccume chamber. You cleared up all my questions . Good Job!

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Kurt.. Glad I could help 👍

[@wakelywanderer12]

Everything we need to know, no wasted time. Perfect.

[@JakeThompson]

👍👍👍

[@MrVillafum]

Great video Jake! I tried to explain to a fellow KZbin(er) that wrapping the piece in aluminum foil wasn't really needed during drying process...However he insisted it wouldn't work without it...Thanks for vindicating me. 😁

[@JakeThompson]

I’m glad I could help out.. I’ve never wrapped them and it’s always worked. 👍👍

[@MarklTucson]

Have never wrapped mine either based on what Jake, Casey Martin, and Zac Higgins have shown. Works just fine and much less cleanup

[@donperryman3689]

Great video. Just curious though, could you not just turn the over off after the 24 hours of drying to cool off slowly?

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you… if you just leave it in the oven without covering it in plastic or sealing it before you put it in cactus juice.. it will collect moisture from the atmosphere.. and will undo the drying we did

[@keiththompson2337]

thank you my memory is going gradually so i try to learn at least one new thing a day and hope to retain it so now i know how to stabalise hard wood thanks for posting

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Keith .. it’s the same, but the results won’t be as drastic, Hardwoods’s are dense and there’s not much room for the cactus juice to go. Thank you again

[@wallawally]

Great video, your videos helped me a lot when I started out. Now I have 3 chambers and a weekly customer. Thanks man

[@JakeThompson]

That is awesome.. I’m glad I could help out! 🦾🦾

[@jessesanchez9529]

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@JakeThompson]

Very welcome… Thank you

[@Mr_Chuckles]

So sweet when it doesn't float after the soak :) That is an epic stabilization, only got above 100% once when I did something quite punky.

[@JakeThompson]

I love it when it starts sinks all the way. 👍👍

[@markdarlington9914]

Am loving these short sweet and to point videos thank you jake

[@JakeThompson]

Very welcome Mark . 👍

[@timponder7487]

I like that new oven Jake

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Tim.. I love the new oven. 👍👍

[@davidburch.tx_woodworks]

Nice and to the point! The new oven is really nice!!

[@JakeThompson]

Thanks Dave .. I love the new oven 👍👍

[@alangibb3100]

Jake very explanatory video mate well done and thanks for the info

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Alan. I’m happy you enjoyed it.

[@SusanGriggsPhoto]

As always, another great vid! Thanks Jake!

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Suzan. I appreciate it. 😊

[@jpwoodwork]

Awesome Jake, Can you stabilize Popsicle Sticks...... asking for a friend (Huey)

[@JakeThompson]

Huey already knows!! 😂🦾

[@jpwoodwork]

@@JakeThompson Thats why hes always in the Cellar?

[@HueyLionsheart]

@@JakeThompson Huey knows....how does he know....he'll never know....oh Huey knows...🤣🤣

[@Hazdazos]

What a great video. Simple steps and easy to follow. Thanks for making this.

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you for watching.. you are very welcome! 👍👍

[@JiggsysShed]

Another great instructional video Jake.

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you John 🦾🦾

[@mikedoyle5362]

Hey Jake great video. One trick is to get a MP 3 in. x 6 in. 20-Gauge Galvanized Mending Plate. Metal plate with spikes and put it in the foil pan. Then you don’t have to hang it and you have even less clean up on the bottom. The Beauty is the grate does not have to be cleaned either.

[@JakeThompson]

That’s a pretty good idea 👍

[@leahforrest9155]

STP..short and to the point. This is your bread and butter🎯

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you.. now I’m hungry 😋

[@leahforrest9155]

🐳

[@bobfalk2896]

Great Video....concise and to the point. Thank you!

[@JakeThompson]

Very welcome Bob. Glad I could help

[@kris_kreations]

So informative. That tray is such a great idea. Pretty cool, Jake. 🔥💚🔥💚🔥

[@JakeThompson]

Thanks Kris 💚💚

[@PHIL_S]

Great end-to-end explanation - thanks for sharing your work!

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Phil👍

[@WackeyWorxWorkshop]

I like the new oven. Great job buddy!!!

[@JakeThompson]

Thanks Matt.. no moisture meter.. 😂😂

[@joshmorris8510]

Great explanation video on stabilizing Jake! Wish I would have seen this when I first started doing stabilizing. I wrapped my stuff in foil and it was a chore to clean up after. I soon tried it with out it and made my life alot easier.

[@JakeThompson]

Isn’t that the truth.. I was lucky and had some folks tell me not to wrap them. I’m glad I listened 👍

[@littlebear1520]

I'm asking this because because I heard somebody talkin about using stabilized wood in the knife making industry what is the benefit of stabilizing wood especially for knife making making

[@JakeThompson]

The benefit of stabilizing wood is when it is stabilized it eliminates or drastically reduces wood movement, so there’s no warping

[@jimspaulding5385]

Great presentation Jake it was very informative. I had a conversation with Curtis recently and will be starting some color dying soon. I'll let you know how that goes.. I looked at the oven just now that you have listed.... Very nice but I am afraid I will need to stay with my toaster oven a bit longer. Thanks again Jake and keep the presentations coming... 💪💪💪💪💪 👍👍👍

[@JakeThompson]

That oven was definitely a kick in the wallet.. but I don’t regret it one bit.. the toaster ovens work but I won’t leave them unattended again.

[@jencstephens5452]

Excellent stabilizing video! Love the oven, gonna have to talk to Santa about one of those 😉

[@JakeThompson]

Santa is pretty generous 😂😂

[@joejarrell2578]

Great video... I learned that I don't make enough money to stabilize wood........

[@JakeThompson]

Sometimes I think the same lol

[@woodwhalelab208]

Awesome video, thank you!

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you.. Very welcome

[@woodwhalelab208]

@@JakeThompson Can i use just regular kitchen Electric Stoves for this work?=)

[@JakeThompson]

@@woodwhalelab208 I have dried wood in the house oven but I wouldn’t want to do the last step in the house.. It does have an odor and let’s off some steam lol

[@ouchabn]

Hey Jake, what's the chancevyoud sell a couple of small pieces of maple burl? Maybe 2 or 3 pieces of 1"😢×1"×6ish " and the live edge would be cool. It's for a project I'm attempting to build.

[@JakeThompson]

Shot you an email back 👍👍

[@GavSedae]

Nicely explained Jake 👌🏻

[@JakeThompson]

Thank Gav. 👍👍

[@TLAS]

As someone who is just starting to learn about stabilization, I’ve watched several videos and have started to acquire the tools for it. This video definitely helped fill in some knowledge gaps. Much appreciated!

[@JakeThompson]

Very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@TeresaKuehl]

very informative.

[@JakeThompson]

@@TeresaKuehl ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@YamahawgDawg]

Hello there. I enjoyed your video. It was informative. I have a question. I bought a kid awhile back. I’ve left it in storage long enough the activator crystallized. Is there a place where I can buy just the activator?

[@JakeThompson]

If a kid has crystallized.. you have bigger problems… 😂😂. I would contact turntex and see if the have it.

[@YamahawgDawg]

I did send an email. The base solution is still good. Just the small bottle of activator went bad. Waiting to hear from them. Thanks.

[@JakeThompson]

@@YamahawgDawg 👍👍

[@SteelBladeWoodworks]

Very informative and to the point, awesome video!!!!

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Homie D 🦾🦾

[@wheelbarrowbully]

Hello love you videos. My name is Jeff Martin. I have been kicking around some ideas about wood stablizing with heat curing epoxy. I have only seen this done with very small pieces of wood. Like pen blanks and knife handles. It does get a little expensive to stablize. I do have a vacuum vessel that accommodate very large pieces. Stabilized you can use more punky woods and push the envelope. Do you think people would pay for something like this? Thanks

[@Anita-Ball]

Thanks for sharing these videos. Lots of great information and easy to understand 💯💚

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Anita 💚💚💚

[@Paul-Coburn]

Good job Jake

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Paul 👍

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

Thanks. Very nice vid. You told me what I need to know about Stabilizing. You also got my sub.

[@JakeThompson]

Awesome.. Thank you for watching Clint 👍

[@DougMilleratWoodSpunRound]

Good info Jake

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Doug 👍👍

[@waynebigfootwoodcraft]

Great video pal, really informative 👍

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Wayne and Auntie Val

[@lancecpldave]

How do you do big pieces like burl slaps for guitars tops?

[@JakeThompson]

@@lancecpldave the 7 gallon vacuum chamber will fit big pieces in it.. I think there are larger ones too.

[@JennsTurn]

Awesome and informative! 💪🏼💙🔥

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Jenny 💙💙

[@WaynetheWoodturner]

another great tutorial

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Wayne 👍🦾

[@mikethompson9745]

Is there an Ambient temperature that stabilizing should be done at? unlike resin casting, temps are very important. What woods do you stabilize? any? i am curious and interested, I have some root burls that are flaky and of course wont stay together on the lathe . if i were to use a hardwood that's not punky or anything what would the result be? seems real interesting, is it ok to stabilize in the basement or is the smell over powering and should be done else ware I don't heat my shop in the winter to much over 50 warm enough to work without gloves. I live in NW near the Rockies

[@JakeThompson]

As far as ambient temps go.. just don’t store the cactus juice over 80 degrees F. It can set up if it gets too hott.. you can stabilize hardwoods but it doesn’t gain much weight and I’m not sure how much it will help with minimizing seasonal movement. I stabilize mostly maple burl.

[@BonnieE1969]

Great info!!!

[@JakeThompson]

💜💜💜

[@olekaarvaag9405]

Is cactus juice the standard, and is it literallycactus juice or is cactus juice a commonly used name for something? I just assumed the process was going to be more like how carbon/glass fiber is laid and impregnated with epoxy in a vacuum bag. I suppose epoxy runs far too thick to soak up through the wood properly.

[@JakeThompson]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Cactus juice is just the name of the product. It is pretty much the standard. There are other products out there, but I think Cactus Juice is the way to go.

[@OdisWoodshop]

Hi , what pump do you use more ?

[@JakeThompson]

@@OdisWoodshop I use them both equally.. I don’t see much difference in performance between the 2

[@OdisWoodshop]

@@JakeThompson thank you

[@richm.1583]

The cactus juice had turned dark from the 1st use; If I understand right the juice can be reused for up to a year. Will the dark color from previous stabilizations ruin projects down the road?

[@JakeThompson]

It just looks dark.. it’s mostly just dust and grime going to the bottom making it look dark.. I’ve never had a problem.. after I stabilize pine cones, I will clean everything and start fresh after that.

[@brokenbranchwoodshop1873]

Always helpful!

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Mark 👍👍

[@MarklTucson]

Nice quick summary. Do you strain your cactus juice before you store it after you’ve used it?

[@JakeThompson]

I store it right in the vacuum chamber. Every once in a while. I will pour all the cactus juice into one chamber and clean the empty one.. that’s about it.

[@MarklTucson]

@@JakeThompson Thanks. Since I use the vacuum chamber for silicone and epoxy, I need to pour it back or into another container. I've been straining it to get the wood chips and other detritus out; didn't know how others approached it.

[@cgseymour]

Great video Jake -- Quick question regarding your new oven -- are the temp controls accurate? I just ordered the smaller model (20 GC) and was curious if the temp settings are accurate / reliable? Thank you once again for another fun, informative video.

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you for watching.. the temperature control gets me close and I take temperature readings directly on the wood with a temp gun after that and adjust accordingly 👍

[@patrickhealy1761]

I noticed that many videos on stabilizing wood using a vacuum chamber with a pump will tell you to leave the pump running for as long as it takes for the air bubbles to stop. When I read the specs on these pumps they say do not run them longer than two hours. What is your take on this fact? Thanks

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you for watching first of all.. I appreciate it.. I think they say 2 hours because after that length of use it gets a bit hot and the pump oil can start breaking down.. if I have a long run, I change the oil before the next use.. I’m still using the original pump I bought years ago.. The other point might be, if you want all the air out of the wood so you can get a thorough stabilization of the wood, you have to wait for all the bubble to stop. Some people just buy cheap pumps for when they stop working, they can just buy another one. I hope this was helpful. Jake

[@patrickhealy1761]

Thanks for getting back to me. One of the things I don't understand is if the vacuum chamber is able to hold the correct setting even when you shut the pump off why is it necessary to keep the pump running? If the chamber does drop over time I can turn it back on until it reaches the correct pressure. @@JakeThompson

[@JakeThompson]

@@patrickhealy1761 all I know is.. it states very clearly to leave the pump on until it stops bubbling.. maybe it just needs to keep expelling the air to keep removing the air from the wood..This is the most common question I get.. if I get a better answer .. I will definitely come back to this comment and have a better answer..

[@patrickhealy1761]

Thanks for your feedback. @@JakeThompson

[@ozarkscarguy540]

How long does cactus juice last after its mixed?

[@JakeThompson]

I could be wrong but I think about a year.. I never let it sit for too long without using it

[@scottjones6652]

Help Help !! Need some info. If stabilizing hickory and it takes seven days to quit bubbling. Do I leave it soak for another 7 days ?? Do you leave your vacuum pump run for the entire time ??

[@JakeThompson]

I’ve never stabilized hickory. 7 days seem like waaaay too much.. I’ve done about 12 hours with the old formula of cactus juice.. and I do leave the pump on the entire time.. after the bubbles stop. You are supposed to turn off the pump and release the vacuum and let soak for twice as long as you had it under vacuum.

[@scottjones6652]

All the hickory still floats after 2 days.

[@JakeThompson]

@@scottjones6652 Not all of the wood you are going to stabilize will sink.. Hickory is a hardwood.. there’s not a lot of space in the wood fibers for the resin to get into.. The burls that are spongy will soak in alot of resin and sink..

[@maroonsr20]

wouldn't it be better to use like a piece of brass or something that doesn't oxide like a rusty spool of metal?

[@JakeThompson]

@@maroonsr20 it would definitely be prettier to use.. but at the end of the day, you are just trying to weigh it down..

[@Sigt0013]

What does it mean if the wood floats after the stabilizing process.

[@JakeThompson]

Some woods won’t sink as good as this one.. some will float.. it just means that some woods accept the stabilizing process better that other pieces of wood.

[@Sigt0013]

@@JakeThompson Thanks. Enjoy all your videos.

[@nikolasjones117]

How many blocks of wood could you ruffly stabilize with 1 gallon of cactus juice

[@JakeThompson]

It would depend on how big the blocks of wood are and the size and shape of the vacuum chamber

[@dumitrupascale7758]

Heloo . I run the vacuum pump over 6 hours and the buble not stop to out . Over night stop the pump and next morning start again ,many buble come out . Its normal ?

[@dumitrupascale7758]

Teak wood

[@JakeThompson]

I’m guessing Teak wood is very hard…. But I’ve never stopped and started again.. I just keep going until the bubbles stop. 👍

[@dumitrupascale7758]

Ok but over the night ....i need to sleep , and the pump heating too much

[@JakeThompson]

@@dumitrupascale7758 did you get the bubbles to stop the next day…. You could also start the process in the morning… I haven’t had to go over a 2 hours since cactus juice went to the new formula.

[@lordskitch]

I'm looking forward to trying it once my garage is no longer a kajillion degrees... also looking forward to my garage not being a kajillion degrees!

[@JakeThompson]

You get 5 flex arms for the spelling of kajilllion 🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾

[@teckle.turnings]

👍💪❤️🖤❤️💪👍😃

[@JakeThompson]

👍👍💚❤️💚👍🦾

[@ConnieConnie824]

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@JakeThompson]

💜💜💜