How do you treat spalting?

[crazylegs]

I have some spalted timber to turn it is not very soft but want to be able to get a good finish. Should I treat it with something or will sanding sealer do the trick? If I dilute the sealer will this soak in and have a better result ?

[Les Symonds]

It's tricky to answer that without poking and prodding he wood. Thinned sealer is good (thinned about 50/50), but pre-turn to a full shape, seal, and then take the last few fine cuts off with a freshly sharpened gouge. If the wood is too soft for that approach, then you try a proprietary brand of wood hardener....you can get Ronseal wet rot wood hardener from Screwfix, and it is very good, works in seconds.
Les

[bodrighywood]

Abrasives are a good tool people often forget that. With softer wood you can harden as suggested then use abrasives to finish. Main thing is to be careful that you use the abrasive on a piece of wood or other hard item not with your fingers as then you can shape the wood. Start with 240 or 180 but nothing Hing rougher ideally.

Pete

[GBF]

I am not sure about the dust when sanding some of these wood hardeners I used some and it was not nice.

Regards George

[bodrighywood]

You do need a face mask if only a cloth one. Same if using CA glue as some do on pens etc.

Pete

[Dave Brookes]

Try the Drechseln wood hardener from the ToolPost, it works very well and doesn’t affect the colour of the wood.

Dave

[crazylegs]

Thanks for the replies.