Stabilized?

[Rusty Snuffers]

What exactly do you guys mean when you say the scales or handle or wood is "stabilized"?  Pardon my newbness...   :D

Rusty

[Ragnarok Forge]

Stabilization is the use of a vacuum chamber to fully impregnate any open pores in the wood scales with a plasticized polymer.  The finished wood actually feel like plastic. It is totally waterproof and stain proof.  I have seen people advertize cocabolo and ebony scales as stabilized.  You can't stabilize these heavy oil woods.   Shop with care when you are buying "stabilized" wood.

[kbaknife]

http://www.knifeandgun.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=71

[Rusty Snuffers]

Thanks guys!

[75diagg]

dont you just love these sellers that list stabilized cocobolo,Bacote and such????? Those are the ones to beware of...... these woods need nothing but a good sanding and I polish them just like a silver or gold ring.
Real porous non oily woods need some type of sealer and the vacuum and various plastics and resins do the trick...The vacuum sucks it right into the wood and makes it so to speak water and weather proof.