Subject: palm wood
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999I am a woodturner and read with interest your results with your products on balsa wood. Do you think that palm wood could be stabilized with the same method. It is almost as porous as balsa but not held together with grain.
Also, do you have a product that would serve as a finish. I have tried many kinds of varnish,etc and think that an epoxy would give a beautiful and lasting finish.
Any info you could give me would be very much appreciated.
Dick S.
As you know, palm is a fibrous wood and so cross-penetration of the "grain" would be minimal. However, CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer) should penetrate dry palm wood a good distance when applied to the grain ends. In this case it would act to harden and preserve the interior fibers. On the surface the CPES would penetrate wherever it found an opening, and would certainly give the exterior an epoxy sheen if two or more coats were applied. It is something you could test. Buy a 2-pint unit of our CPES and give it a try.
CPES is an epoxy product and so like all epoxies it is subject to degradation by UV light. This is particularly true in direct sunlight. Used indoors this should not be a significant problem. To guarantee long-term protection of the surface we would suggest a final coat of a marine-grade (lots of UV filters) polyurethane varnish. This adheres particularly well to the CPES-treated wood, although any paint or varnish will also adhere well.
Come back if you have additional questions or we can be of further help.
Doc