7 Things You NEED to Know when Stabilizing Wood!

[@jpwoodwork]

Fantastic, informative video Jake

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Mate 🦾🦾

[@55chevy327]

Great video, it answered a lot of my questions.

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you John-Boy 🦾🦾

[@JennsTurn]

Thank you for the info! I will add this video to my reference list. The other stabilization video you did is always a go to and this one will help! 🔥💪🏼💙

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Jenny 💙💙💙

[@TwistedWorkshop77]

Great video! I just received a vacuum chamber and pump to stabilize some mallet heads and knife scales and your videos are super helpful. Thanks!!

[@JakeThompson]

Awesome.. you are going to have lots of fun.. I’m glad you enjoy the videos 🦾👍

[@CraftsbyTony]

great video! 👍

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Tony 🦾🦾

[@JakieThompson]

Great video!!

[@JakeThompson]

🦾💜🦾💜🦾

[@agkwoodworks3136]

Fantastic Video , what a brilliant walkthrough thank you Jake

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Andrew 🦾🦾

[@dtork47]

Gotta have a thick glass lid! Thanks for the info Jake. Stay safe.

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you 👍👍👍

[@Anita-Ball]

Thanks for all the information on wood stabilization. I will definitely be referencing back to this video.

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Anita 🧡🧡🧡

[@Paul-Coburn]

Excellent information Jake. Thank you,

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Paul 🦾🦾

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Paul 🌭🌭

[@henrysara7716]

Great walk through

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Henry 👍👍

[@skene59design]

Great video. Thanks

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you John 🦾🦾

[@ConnieConnie824]

Jake: Where Do You Get Cactus Juice? Me: From A Cactus 😂

[@JakeThompson]

So pretty 💜💜💜

[@ConnieConnie824]

@@JakeThompson 😊😁😊

[@ConnieConnie824]

@@kevinhansen2720 🤣🤣🤣

[@MemelordSupreme]

The cactus juice will affect the acrylic lids for sure! Definitely need glass! The components in cactus juice cause acrylic to spiderweb. I don't know what component that's in it that causes it, but it definitely reacts to the acrylic.

[@JakeThompson]

👍👍👍

[@WeeVal]

❤️💪❤️

[@JakeThompson]

❤️🦾❤️🦾

[@JiggsysShed]

Great video mate!

[@JakeThompson]

🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾

[@crackerjack3359]

Another question for you Jake. Having stabilized with cactus juice does that prevent applying an oil finish.

[@JakeThompson]

@@crackerjack3359 I don’t use oil finishes mush but you should be able to use it.. it just won’t soak in as well as non stabilized wood

[@thisissoeasy]

Really good video! Thank you...

[@JakeThompson]

Very welcome 👍

[@stokmj]

I have a question about drying. In regard to efficiency with larger pieces of wood. Instead of a toaster oven you use a lab oven. What is your opinion on the difference between using a lab oven or a regular kitchen oven for drying wood? The lab ovens are a great idea but a bit pricy. Is there a specific reason to use the lab oven vs picking up a cheap standard kitchen oven? I would be thrilled to hear your thought! Thanks so much for your time!! 🤘 Stellar videos dude!!!

[@JakeThompson]

@@stokmj Thank you for the comment.. I’m glad you enjoy the videos.. I use the lab oven for safety as the biggest reason.. The other ovens get red hot when they are warming up or when they come back on to maintain heat.. I’ve actually had a fire start in a toaster oven.. it was my fault.. I had it over full and the heating element on the top of the oven caught the wood on fire… The other kinds of ovens will work but I wouldn’t leave them unattended. I hope this answered your question 👍

[@neutrallybiassed1330]

is it the quenchiest? in terms of cracking, it is because the valve is off-center and the plastic is too thin. To use a 1/4" glass plate wouldn't hold pressure and would implode. likewise a 1.5" plastic would.

[@JakeThompson]

I’m not sure why plastic lids crack, I just know that they do with this process.

[@neutrallybiassed1330]

@@JakeThompson strength of the vaccuum, strength of the material, points of weakness from the spigot, and how thin the material is. it's just that. if you use a polycarbonate vs an acryllic vs insert other clear plastic... it just needs to be thick enough to hold 14 PSI (1 bar) or just use a plastic plate with the glass lidded chamber. you can order plastic sheets online that are really thick too. you can also use just about any non porous material if it was thick enough.

[@JakeThompson]

@@neutrallybiassed1330 I think I will just order the pots with the glass lid ..

[@gsmscrazycanuck9814]

I have one question. If you mix up a gallon and use 3/4s of it, can you add fresh cactus juice to it?

[@JakeThompson]

Yes if I understand the question correctly.. When the camber gets low on cactus juice, you can add new cactus juice to it and it’s good.

[@adventureunderground2234]

I have a question. When the wood comes out of the 220D oven. Can it go under vacuum with no cactus juice till it cools? Wouldn't that also keep moisture from back into the wood?

[@JakeThompson]

@@adventureunderground2234 I’m sure you could do that, but you would also want the wood to get under 85 degrees.. staying in the vacuum chamber might prevent that.. but you could sure give it a shot. 👍

[@prettythingsmadeforyou]

Informative! Nice job Jake.

[@JakeThompson]

🦾❤️🦾❤️🦾

[@jimspaulding5385]

Great instructional Jake. Well done. I do I have 1 question please. I had a long conversation with Curtis of Turn Tex at SWAT last August about different vacuum pumps. Have you ever needed to rebuild any of your pumps? thanks again Jake. 💪💪💪💪💪

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you Mr. Jim.. I haven’t had any trouble out of my pumps.. The original pump from my original video from years ago is still going strong.

[@JS_Knives]

Good video! Do you have your pump going without a stop for 12h if needed? My pump is getting really hot after just 30 min, so i'm worried that it will break if i run it to long. But every video i have seen on YT it seems that the pump is on until the bubbles stops.

[@JakeThompson]

Leave the pump on for as long as it takes for the bubbles to stop…

[@markboyer8898]

thanks for the video and explanation. looking at bvv kits and there is a recommendation for a cold trap but didn't see or hear why you don't use a cold trap.

[@JakeThompson]

Thanks for the comment.. I’ve never used a cold trap.. I just pay attention to the level while the bubbles are coming up.. it’s a good idea to get one for insurance.. I’ve just never done it .

[@APs.Custom.knives]

How wet is the wood before you started it in the oven? Fresh? Cured for a period of time?

[@JakeThompson]

@@APs.Custom.knives It’s kiln dried to around 10% or so

[@APs.Custom.knives]

@JakeThompson ty

[@dbeez1075]

Great video Jake. I have started stabilising wood and basically follow the steps you've demonstrated . But my problem is that most of my blanks float after the bubbles have stopped and I've let them stack for another 24 hours. So I start the process again and still they float or are partially submerged. Any idea on what I'm doing wrong? Thanks

[@JakeThompson]

Some of mine will still ll float too.. I think it’s just the wood didn’t take in as much cactus juice.. or maybe better that I say not all pieces of wood are capable of taking in enough to make them not float.. I could be wrong.. I just follow all these steps and after it’s all said and done .. as long as it’s not brittle and doesn’t mess up my resin castings .. it’s all good… I hope this helps

[@OdisWoodshop]

Doesn't that temp case harden it? I'm just starting my wood stabilizing journey..

[@JakeThompson]

@@OdisWoodshop Which temp at what stage?

[@OdisWoodshop]

@JakeThompson you say 220 for 24 hrs.

[@JakeThompson]

@ yes.. you just need it to be above boiling.. I say 24 hours because that is just typically how long it takes for the wood I get to stop losing weight.

[@OdisWoodshop]

@@JakeThompson thanks for your time 👍

[@JakeThompson]

@ very welcome .. don’t hesitate to ask, and I have other videos on stabilizing on this channel as well.

[@PHIL_S]

Thanks for sharing your work with all of us - very well presented and full of good information thanks Jake!

[@JakeThompson]

Very welcome Phil .. glad you enjoyed. 🦾

[@perrys5954]

Thanks for this video I'm sure it is going to to clear up a lot of questions (it did for me). However, I have a question Id be surprised if it hasn't been asked a lot. Can I stabilize wood with cactus juice using a regular oven and still safely cook food afterwards or do you need a dedicated heating system for wood only?

[@JakeThompson]

Thank you for the question and I’m glad you enjoyed the video.. there is an odor when heating up the wood in the last part of the process… I wouldn’t do this in my house… I’m not sure if it would be safe or not for cooking, I just wouldn’t do it in the house.. lots of people use toaster ovens that work just fine.. Just don’t leave them unattended

[@perrys5954]

@@JakeThompson Thanks for the super quick response and feedback. I'll dig my old toaster oven out of storage :)

[@perrys5954]

@@JakeThompson Oh I don't mean to take too much advantage of your kindness in answering questions but I did have a follow up question that is pretty important to me. I don't likely have cause to use a full 1 gal jug that I have within the year and wondering why you advise against adding half of the activator to half of the jug of cactus juice? Sincerely thanks again in advance for sharing your experience/insight! :)

[@JakeThompson]

@@perrys5954 Very welcome… There is an exact measurement and I think almost impossible to get it right if you try to plot it up.. you can also buy smaller kits if 1 gallon is too much.

[@perrys5954]

@@JakeThompson Yah perhaps I should have bought my first supply in smaller quantity but the possibility of saving some money in the long run was too much to resist (assuming at the time to divide portion it).

[@HIEUIMM]

Please let me ask: why is the wood stable, I only see people making small sizes but not large sizes?!

[@JakeThompson]

@@HIEUIMM I have stabilized some pretty large pieces of wood, but it has to fit into a vacuum chamber to do it.

[@HIEUIMM]

@ So the problem is related to the size of the vacuum chamber and the wood drying kiln, not the wood specifications, right?! Thank you for your kindness!

[@JakeThompson]

@ A dense wood won’t need to be stabilized or the stabilizing process won’t make a huge difference.. it really makes a difference when the wood is punky or not very dense..

[@nobackhands]

rather than using resin... on good wood dye to change color

[@JakeThompson]

Not sure what you’re asking? Maybe an autocorrect