Thread: Stabilizing brush blank project

Been using some stabilized wood on a few brush and pen projects and have been learning about, and leaning towards building my own vacuum/ pressure pot system.
I have read in many threads on here about those that have their own systems and look forward to adding a new experience to the collective.
Figured I got the key component today so I should start.

Needs some minor tlc, but a gift from our hvac guy at the plant has given me the kick I need.
Please, feel free to add to this thread if you have experience or ideas relevant to the stabilizing process. Chemicals that you use, vac or pressure systems you have built etc.
My setup will involve repurposing an aluminum pressure cooker, and or a fluid extraction system designed for automotive use, still tbd.
Cheers.

There was an interesting point made in a similar thread about making sure you have a containment area set up incase your vessel implodes and sends chemical and shards flying.

Remember to disconnect the pump before you shut it off. Otherwise all the pump oil will be sucked out of it and into you container.
~Richard

Always remember to have the camera running when your experimenting with this process please. We all love explosive action vids :<0)

Not to derail your thread but I remember this 1 ------> http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-products.html

Thanks for posting the link pups, I remember reading that one, but couldn't find it again.
No derailment worries, the rail wanders all on its own.

Will film projects and post successes and fails as I learn sometimes more from the latter than the former..

Would like to make something transparent to watch the progress, but also appreciate the pressures involved. So may just stick with paint pots and pressure cookers.
Untreated burls are seemingly so much less $ to procure, it'll be fun regardless of how far I take it.

I can get you a link to bullet proof plexi glass if you want but be advised.....it ain't cheap. Heck that might be a fun experiment on it's own. Here's Mike now attempting 4 layers of plexi from home depot. Now that he is out of the hospital :<0)

I am making fun because I don't think the vacuum pressure your going to be using is as dangerous as pressure going the other way.
Be careful anyway.

It's all good.
I used to work in the chem industry making vinyl esters. We needed 28 " of mercury vacuum to make that process run so I have some experience at absolute pressures. I think my pressure cooker with some mods will be more than sufficient, and safe, to pull all the vacuum I need and provide the internal space for the smaller chemical pot holding the blanks.
For the positive pressure pot, not sure if the same pressure vessel will work or not. Need to do some more research, and scrounging in the metal bin at work..
Then research some watery viscosity stabilizer options. I read cactus juice is the bar to measure against, but that isn't available locally that I know of. Resins are too thick IMO, and most other 2 part chemical mixes are as well. Maybe diluted urethane type products might work...
Lots to consider still.

There was a video in one of the recent threads where they had a jar with the goo in it in a vacuum chamber as opposed to a larger volume to make the pot full. It seems like a great way to minimize product usage while having enough to submerge the treated piece in. Being as I know almost nothing about the process I was rather entertained.

Yup, that's what I plan on, smaller disposable lunch box size trays holding the wood and stabilizer stuff in the pot. Use less, and less clean up. If I get to trying wood/ acrylic hybrids, then I'd make those forms out of uhmw, but they'd still be small brush sized boxes that sit in the pressure cooker.