Frequently Asked Questions

What is wood stabilization?

Wood stabilization is a process in which properly dried wood is submerged in a specialized heat-curing resin and placed under deep vacuum. The vacuum removes trapped air from the porous structure of the wood. After vacuum is released, atmospheric pressure helps move resin into those evacuated spaces. The wood is then heat cured, permanently hardening the absorbed resin within the material.

What are the benefits of stabilizing wood?

Depending on the species and individual piece, stabilization can improve:

Dimensional stability
Hardness
Machinability
Resistance to moisture-related movement
Durability
Ability to hold fine detail
Overall working characteristics

Stabilization can be especially beneficial for burls, highly figured woods, spalted material, softer woods, and porous species.

Does every type of wood need to be stabilized?

No.

Many dense, structurally sound hardwoods perform very well without stabilization. Stabilization is most beneficial when the characteristics of the wood make additional hardness, stability, or resin reinforcement desirable.

We evaluate each species and piece individually.

What types of wood can you stabilize?

We process many domestic and exotic woods, including:

Amboyna Burl
Maple Burl
Black Ash Burl
Curly Maple
Quilted Maple
Birdseye Maple
Spalted Woods
Box Elder
Figured Exotic Woods
Palm Materials
Mango
Guava
Avocado
Cue-Making Blanks
Turning Blanks
Knife Scales
Specialty Wood Components

Other species may also be accepted after evaluation.

Are there woods that cannot be stabilized?

Yes.

Extremely dense, naturally oily, waxy, or resinous woods may absorb very little stabilization resin or may interfere with the stabilization process.

Certain rosewoods, cocobolo, and other oily tropical hardwoods may be declined.

If you are unsure about a species, contact us before shipping it.

Does my wood need to be dry before I send it?

No. We perform the final drying and moisture preparation required before stabilization.

However, wood that arrives with elevated moisture content will require additional drying time, which can extend the turnaround time of your order.

Proper drying is an essential part of successful stabilization and will not be rushed.

How long does the stabilization process take?

We typically strive for an approximately 7-day turnaround whenever possible.

Actual turnaround depends on several factors, including:

Quantity of wood
Starting moisture content
Amount of drying required
Species
Density
Porosity
Blank dimensions
Vacuum processing time
Number of batches required
Current workload

Seven days is our typical target and should not be considered a guaranteed completion date.

How much does stabilization cost?

Our professional stabilization service is priced at:

$14.00 Per Returned Pound

A base processing charge also applies to each order.

The per-pound portion of your bill is calculated using the final stabilized weight of the material being returned to you after processing and curing.

Shipping charges are additional.

Why do you charge by returned weight?

Different woods absorb very different amounts of resin.

A highly porous burl may retain considerably more stabilization resin than a dense piece of hardwood of the same dimensions.

Using the final stabilized returned weight provides a consistent method of pricing based on the material actually processed and the resin retained within the wood.

Can you tell me exactly what my wood will weigh after stabilization?

No.

Finished weight cannot be accurately predicted before stabilization.

Resin uptake varies according to:

Species
Density
Porosity
Grain structure
Figure
Size
Internal cellular structure
Natural oils
Overall condition of the material

Two pieces of the same species and dimensions can absorb different amounts of resin.

Does stabilization guarantee complete resin penetration?

No.

Natural wood varies internally, and complete penetration cannot be guaranteed in every piece.

The effectiveness of stabilization depends on the wood's porosity, density, cellular structure, natural oils, grain orientation, internal defects, and other characteristics.

We process material according to how it responds rather than according to an arbitrary fixed vacuum time.

How long do you keep the wood under vacuum?

There is no single vacuum time that is appropriate for every piece of wood.

Some material releases trapped air relatively quickly, while other pieces may require considerably longer.

We monitor the stabilization process and allow the wood to remain under vacuum according to the way the material responds.

We do not remove wood simply because a predetermined number of hours has passed.

Will stabilization make my wood waterproof?

No.

Stabilization can significantly reduce the effect of moisture changes in suitable wood, but stabilized wood should not be considered completely waterproof.

Proper storage and finishing practices should still be used.

Can stabilization straighten warped wood?

No.

Stabilization is not a method for correcting a warped blank.

Existing warp should normally be removed through proper machining or turning when sufficient material is available.

Will stabilization repair cracks and voids?

Not necessarily.

Stabilization resin is intended primarily to penetrate porous wood. It is not the same as casting resin.

Large cracks, bark inclusions, open knots, wormholes, missing sections, and major voids may not be completely filled during stabilization.

Some material may require a separate casting or repair process.

Can you stabilize wood that is already cracked?

Possibly.

Minor checks and natural defects do not automatically disqualify a piece, but severely cracked or structurally compromised material may be rejected.

We evaluate the condition of the wood before processing.

Will stabilization change the color of my wood?

It can.

Many species become darker, richer, or more visually pronounced after resin impregnation and heat curing.

Because natural wood varies, we cannot guarantee an exact final color.

Will the wood become heavier?

Usually, yes.

Wood that successfully absorbs stabilization resin will gain weight because the cured resin remains within the material.

The amount of weight gain varies considerably from one piece to another.

Does more weight gain always mean better stabilization?

No.

Weight gain alone does not determine stabilization quality.

A very porous piece may absorb a large quantity of resin, while an already dense piece may absorb considerably less.

Resin uptake must be considered in relation to the characteristics of the individual wood.

Can you stabilize customer-supplied cue blanks?

Yes.

Cue-making material is one of our primary areas of focus.

We can evaluate suitable material intended for:

Forearms
Butt sleeves
Handles
Ring billets
Joint protectors
Inlay stock
Decorative components
Specialty cue parts

If the wood is intended for a specific cue component, please include that information when submitting your stabilization request.

Can I send several different species in the same order?

In many cases, yes.

Multiple species can often be included in the same order, provided the materials are suitable and compatible with our processing requirements.

Some oily, contaminated, or unusual species may need to be processed separately or declined.

Can previously finished or treated wood be stabilized?

Possibly, but you must tell us before shipping it.

Wood previously exposed to oil, wax, finish, sealer, preservatives, hardeners, dyes, chemicals, or unknown treatments may not be suitable for stabilization.

These products can interfere with resin penetration or contaminate stabilization resin.

Should I coat, seal, or oil my wood before sending it?

No.

Please send the material untreated.

Do not apply:

Oil
Wax
Finish
Sealer
Wood hardener
Preservative
Surface coating

If the material has already been treated, let us know before shipping.

Do I need to remove bark?

Loose bark should be removed whenever possible.

Bark, dirt, debris, loose material, and contamination can interfere with processing and may introduce unwanted material into the stabilization resin.

Can you guarantee that valuable wood will not crack or become damaged?

No stabilization service can eliminate all risk when working with natural wood.

Hidden checks, internal cracks, voids, stress, decay, bark inclusions, and other defects may not be visible before drying or curing.

We handle customer material carefully, but the internal condition of natural wood cannot be guaranteed.

How should I ship my wood?

Submit a stabilization request by calling us at 1-434-471-2063 and receive approval before sending your material.

Once approved:

Package the wood securely.
Protect corners and ends from shipping damage.
Include your name and contact information inside the package.
Clearly identify unusual or valuable pieces.
Include any special instructions.
Ship the material to the address provided with your order confirmation.

Please do not ship material until your order has been accepted.

Who pays for shipping?

Customers are responsible for shipping their material to ResAlign and for applicable return shipping charges once processing is complete.

Shipping costs are separate from stabilization charges.

Can I request expedited service?

We will always make reasonable efforts to accommodate customer schedules, but stabilization cannot be rushed when additional drying, vacuum processing, soaking, curing, or evaluation is necessary.

Proper processing takes priority over an expedited completion date.

What if I am not sure whether my wood is suitable?

Send us:

Wood species
Dimensions
Number of pieces
Approximate condition
Intended application
Clear photographs

We will review the material and let you know whether we believe it is a suitable candidate before you ship it.

Still Have Questions?

Contact ResAlign with information about your material and intended application. We will be happy to review your project before you send your wood.