Vacuum for Wood Stabilizer

[hosana]

:confused:
I've got a some maple, walnut, osage orange and various other woods that I would like to use for handles. Being a newbie, I don't have the budget that would allow me to send the wood off to be professionally stabilized. Therefore I've been researching how to build a home stabilizer. I've got an old preasure cooker but now I'm working on a vacuum. Ifound out today that a friend will give one. My question is how much vacuum preasure is needed to pull air from wood. I'm not up on the proper terminology but he says that this vacuum will pull 23 pounds per inch( forgive me if this is wrong.) Is this enough? How much is recommended? Any other input to building a stabelizer is welcome.
Thanks,
Mike

[Shakudo]

most woods do not require stabilization,so that can solve most of your problem with no money involved. if you really want to play with home stabilization,use the blue search button.there are many threads on vaccum pumps, additives and processes.

[Ray Rogers]

Shakudo is correct. I'm a big fan of stabilized woods but you don't absolutely need to have your wood stabilized.

However, I would add that no matter what kind of vacuum arrangement you end up with, 23 inches is about as much as you will ever get so in that perspective, it is 'enough'. Aside from that, by the time you are through playing with chemistry and maybe buying a few parts here and there only to discover that the results you get are only average at best, you'll realize that professional stabilization really isn't all that expensive and the results a far better........