Indeed.  However, the treatments I mentioned are quite a bit different from
the stuff the boat guys use.  The labs use specialized active polymers that
penetrate the wood and cross-link, but are invisible to the eye.  I have
handled leather, wood and textiles that have been submerged anywhere from
300 to 4,000 years, treated with the new methods, and thereby stablized to
the point that climate control and even white gloves are no longer
necessary.  What's more, they look like what they are, with no gloss, sheen,
or coating -- and, above all, they do not shrink or deform.

Joe

Joseph Sullivan

 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Spike Cornelius [mailto:spikethebike@c...] 
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 1:48 PM
To: joe@j...
Cc: 'John Manners'; 'Don McConnell'; 'oldtools List'
Subject: Re: [OldTools] finishes for beech planes

On Nov 28, 2008, at 8:33 AM, Joseph Sullivan wrote:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~chop~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is possible to use various kinds of polymers to semi-permanently
strengthen and bulk the cells of the wood.  These treatments have not  
yet
been commercialized, but they are used in some of the top archaeological
preservation labs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chop~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The boat guys do this. Check Jamestown Distributors.

Spike Cornelius
PDX
           Crazy for Shavings

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