Stabilized wood source

A place for businesses to post advertisements selling the raw materiasls for pipe making. (Briar, stems, rod stock, exotic woods, etc.)
Post Reply
User avatar
TRS
Site Supporter
Posts: 763
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 8:44 pm
Location: Michigan

Stabilized wood source

Post by TRS »

Does anyone have a good source for larger diameter stabilized wood blanks? I've been hunting for them for stem inlays and shank extensions; the largest I can find, for the most part, is 3/4". This is fine for most stem inlays I think, but i'd be more comfortable with something a tad bit bigger, more room for error and whatnot. I've checked out a lot of penmaking websites and stuff, but they seem to be creatures of 5/8" and 3/4" stock. Oh, and I don't have anything like a Rockler or Woodcraft anywhere near me. Thanks
User avatar
KurtHuhn
Site Admin
Posts: 5326
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States/Rhode Island

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by KurtHuhn »

Sometimes the easiest way is to find the wood you want, and then send it off to be stabilized:
http://www.stabilizedwood.com/

Other than that, I've had good luck trolling eBay.
Kurt Huhn
AKA: Oversized Ostrogoth
artisan@k-huhn.com
User avatar
Philthy
Posts: 73
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:16 pm
Location: Maryland
Contact:

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by Philthy »

Look for knife handle slabs. They come in a variety of exotic woods and most are already stabilized. They will come in slabs 1/4" to 1/2" thick by around 1.5"x5" or in Blocks about 1" thick. Usually beautiful burls and birdseye or spalted woods. You can find them many places but here is just one

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.ph ... 87_827_603
User avatar
TRS
Site Supporter
Posts: 763
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 8:44 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by TRS »

Thanks guys. I'd sorta glanced at the knife blanks before but dismissed them as too thin; I didn't realize they sold them in the thicker blocks.
User avatar
KurtHuhn
Site Admin
Posts: 5326
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: United States/Rhode Island

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by KurtHuhn »

Knife blanks come anywhere from .25" thick on up to big blocks 1.5" thick or bigger. I forgot about those - thanks Phil!

I picked up some stabilized buckeye burl blocks that were tri-color dyed about a year ago. I haven't done anything with them yet, but I just had to have it. The contrast in the grain is amazing.
Kurt Huhn
AKA: Oversized Ostrogoth
artisan@k-huhn.com
User avatar
bluesmk
Posts: 383
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: Bethlehem,Pennsylvania,USA.
Contact:

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by bluesmk »

I've used this company for a few years now and really like them. I have bought boxwood, amboyna burl,olivewood and many others, great company:
http://www.exoticwood.biz/index.htm
Dan
Gabrieli Pipes
User avatar
DMI
Posts: 421
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:48 pm
Location: Northern Ireland

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by DMI »

Stabilized wood is basically impregnated with a resin hardener, go to a hardware store and by some wood hardener for rotten wood.

Take your thin slice of wood and soak it overnight then allow to dry for 48 hours. If you can find a way to put the wood and resin in a pressurised container it will penetrate better, I use a 60psi airbrush compressor and modified jar.

Stabilized wood should not be exposed to temperatures above 135 degrees C as it will give of toxic vapour.

David.
JeremyV
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 3:20 pm
Location: North Texas

Re: Stabilized wood source

Post by JeremyV »

Post Reply