Stabilized wood

Stabilization of wood is a method of processing, as a result of which a tree is given higher strength and improves its decorative qualities, while maintaining its natural pattern. Those. Preserved wood combines the benefits of synthetic materials with natural beauty. During stabilization, the wooden blank is impregnated through and through, forming a polymer monolith that reliably binds wood components and minimizes harmful factors affecting the human body. Stabilized wood has excellent mechanical properties during processing - it does not have differences in density along the body of the workpiece (which allows for more accurate drilling and sawing), it is polished without clogging the skin, it is polished into a mirror. At the same time, the appearance and tactile sensations remain inherent in ordinary wood.

In addition to the intricate pattern on the surface of the product, stabilized wood gives a number of undeniable advantages over traditional materials:
• High density;
• Hardness;
• Resistance to changes in temperature and humidity of the environment;
• Immunity to ultraviolet radiation;
• Ability to withstand short-term heating by an open flame without losing its quality characteristics and without deforming;
• Impermeability to various liquids, including oils;
• Resistance to organic solvents;
• Excellent decorative properties - stabilized wood lends itself well to manual and mechanical processing (does not clog the sanding belt).

Stabilized wood blocks are often used to make knife handles and other cutting tools. Stabilization, as a rule, increases the weight of the workpiece up to one and a half times (depending on the wood), so a well-finished block should sink in water.
As a raw material for stabilization, burl, suvel and spat of various hardwoods are most often used.
            A cap is a rounded outgrowth on a tree (trunk or branches), filled with small woody nodules of dormant (overgrown, but not developed) buds. Many branches often grow from such growths. Since each such kidney has a formed rudimentary ring structure, the cut of such wood has a characteristic “malachite” texture, which looks very nice on the handles, especially if it is “showed” with the help of impregnations and dyes. Burl carving is rarely used as the pattern of the carving is superimposed on the grain pattern of the wood.
            Suvel is wood with other structural changes in fibers than burl. The figure lacks kidneys and ring structures. In fact, Suveli wood has a curved wavy-linear texture (from the old Russian "svil" - twisted), which is formed by the curvature of the tree itself, the twisting of the annual rings of the tree. Therefore, the pattern of the suvel is less intense and saturated than that of the burl; as a rule, it is represented simply by curved lines of wood fibers, while such a texture does not obscure the elements of the carving on the handle.
           Both burl and suvel are very hard woods, especially burl, and are well suited for making handles, not only because of their beauty.
           Spatula is another woody pathology that is often used to make knife handles. Spat is the result of the vital activity of flexible colonies or bacteria on a tree, forming colored spots or veins that are uncharacteristic of the breed. Often, different types of fungus are specially planted, for example, on beech or maple to obtain affected wood. Spalt reduces the strength of the tree and impairs its properties, so wood affected by the fungus is used only in a stabilized form.