Epoxy-Infused Wood
 

I collect pistol carbines, which are notoriously liable to cracking and chipping at the edges of their wooden furniture. What is the thinking of the collector community on infusing their wood with epoxy as a preventative measure? Is it as bad as, or more acceptable than, refinishing the metal?

I don't think that epoxy ages well. Old epoxy always looks yellowed and seems to crack. But I don't have any experience "infusing" it into wood. With wood, I like old, traditional finishes and repair techniques.
Marc

Forget what I posted earlier. :)

I recall that there is a technology where 'epoxy' is drawn into wood by a vacuum process and allowed to cure...I would accept this...

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...od-stabilizing

http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneeri...ng-chamber.htm

I don't know enough to comment on "infused" epoxy. If the question was simply should you fix or repair wood that is damaged I would say yes.

Btw Michael, I sent you pictures of the Lahti.

Since I have an old operating room anesthesia machine which doubles as an aspirator (vacuum pump) I considered treating wood this way. One could also use polyurethane, or any of the other, more natural finishes to take the place of air in the wood fiber. I don't see why it wouldn't work fine, and would expect the outer surface to look the same as with a light coat of boiled linseed oil which had been applied in the usual way. The advantage is that wood would become even more integral in structure, and resistant to decomposition, since it would be entirely cleared of oxygen and sealed. The disadvantage would be that the finished pieces would be more dense, and weigh more.

There are about a million and one uses for Brownell's Accra-Glass. Not sure if it fits your exact needs. but it is great to have around.
dju

Another product to use is epiglass everdure but would only use it where the wood is wormed and prone to crumbling. This is a two pot mix and made for marine applications.

Injecting eproxy into wood as a preventive measure, absolutely NO. The intention is good, but that's not enough -- objectively, there is no difference between this injection and other non-reversible non-factory modifications. Even for repairing, should limited to the damaged area only, as small as minimal as possible. Just my opinion.

Depends!!
 

Hi Guys, I've repaired quite a bit of "stuff"... and I have found that the best solution is often the same as our doctors swear to, "Do no harm" so, with this in mind, you have to tailor the repair to the abuse it is going to have to withstand to keep it alive... So, if it is cosmetic, patch a piece of wood in, using what ever glue or adhesive you feel necessary, stain, oil or darken any way you can... If not happy, wash with thinner and start over... But for recoil, or as a limiting point for pressure or wear, then a combination of wood filler, (dust, powder) with super glue, polyester, epoxy or any combination of the three is the way to proceed... Wood is what they had back then, now we have wonder materials that far exceeds any amount of strength necessary to effect the repair... But, if you want, "as original" wood patched in is the only option.... look at the thousands of Garands and carbines that were repaired this way... you can hardly see the repair, often brass pins are all that give it away... Only what is needed!! And done right! Best to all, til...lat'r....GT:cheers: