The Rot Doctor


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Subject: Unearthed Wooden Water Pipe
Date: Friday, September 7, 2012

Hello,

I would like to know if you could suggest a product to preserve an old wooden water line and a product to encase the pipe in to put it on display in our lobby, we are a water utility. Maybe a liquid plastic or glass substance that will harden completely clear to be poured/sprayed/injected into a display case with the pipe?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Beverly

Beverly,

Our CPES is a great product for preserving wood that is deteriorated. It can darken wood that is weathered from sun or age. If you want to know if CPES will darken your wood, you could sprinkle a little water on. The CPES usually colors the wood about the same amount.

CPES alone will restore an amazing amount of strength, if the wood is reasonably dry, thoroughly soaked in CPES, and left to cure for a long enough period. I would expect that the result would not need any clear encasement. Especially if it was just going to be in a display case. The resins that we sell which could be used for such a purpose are amber colored. In thinner layers, they don't show too much color. But as you go thicker, there is increasing amber color. It would not take much thickness of this material, which is our Layup & Laminating Resin, to add strength. But I would think that this would only be necessary if the original wood is just too thin to support its own weight.

There are other resins out there which are clear, we just do not sell them. But as I said, the CPES alone should strengthen it as much as necessary.

Doc

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