Overview
Few products in recent years have been as beneficial to turners trying to dry green wood as wax emulsion final fiber sealers. In the wood turning shop, wax emulsion sealants play an important role in controlling the Quick moisture loss through freshly cut surfaces in logs, blanks and rough projects. Two widely available wax emulsion sealants are Anchorseal and Mobil-Cer M. Anchorseal is a paraffin-based colloidal solution for logs and wood. It contains paraffin, water and a surfactant and has a milky white appearance. Mobil-Cer M is a microcrystalline wax-based coating. It contains microcrystalline wax, water and a surfactant and also has a milky white appearance.
How wax emulsions work
Wax emulsions (also known as end grain sealers) form a flexible, vapor-permeable membrane between treated surfaces and the surrounding atmosphere. As turners, our goal is not to prevent moisture from moving through the log or wax layer, but to slow the rate of moisture evaporation. When this is achieved, drying defects are reduced and the maximum amount of wood can be used on each log.
Wax emulsions application methods
Wax emulsion sealants can be applied by various methods including brushing, dipping tank, roll-on, atomizing, and vacuum assisted. The decision on which method to choose should be based on the quantity, size and location of the logs or blanks to be processed. Correct application procedures are essential to obtain maximum protection from the wax coating.
Brush
Wax sealants can be easily brushed over exposed grain or log side grain surfaces, rotating squares, and bowl blanks. For optimal surface coverage, cut surfaces should be as smooth as possible. Excess sawdust or debris should be brushed off before applying sealer. Also, if any marks are evident on the exposed end, it should be cut until solid wood is present. When brushing the sealant into the end grain portion of the tumbler squares or bowl blanks, also cover 1 “of the adjacent side grain. This ensures a better coat in the area where the fiber areas meet. end and side grain.
The sealant should be applied to the end grain until it almost runs off. Applying too thin a coat will reduce the level of protection and may compromise the proper drying of the wood. If there are bubbles on the surface, brush the area again until the bubbles disappear completely. Bubbles left in the wet film can cause differential moisture gradients to form on the surface coating. These differential moisture gradients cause uneven drying zones on the face of the treated surface, which can cause the surface to crack.
Roll over
Standard 9 “paint rollers are excellent applicators for medium to large size logs and blanks. My favorite roller is the one sold for painting in tight areas. It is about 4” long and works exceptionally well for any log except the largest. The rollers can apply the coating much more quickly and evenly than manual brushing. Also, because the roll fiber is available in different sizes, rough or uneven cut log surfaces can be covered more easily and evenly.
Dip tanks
By processing large amounts of smaller blanks or turning squares, dip tanks are simple and efficient. Almost any shallow container can be used to make a dip tank. Old cake pans work well, as do small plastic bowls. Simply decant a small amount of the sealer into the tank and dip each end of the blank into the sealant. The sealant level within the dip tank must be adequate enough to cover the end grain and the small amount of adjacent side grain, in one pass.
Grind up
If you are processing a large number of squares or logs, or if you are working with very large diameter logs (2 ‘to 6’ in diameter or larger), consider spraying the sealer. There are many types of sprayers available, including electric, gas, and manual, with sizes and prices to fit any budget. Handheld sprayers are great for spraying in remote locations with no electrical service. Trombone-style slide sprayers are also available that draw directly from five-gallon pails. I have found that the simple pump garden sprinklers available at most home centers work very well and are much easier to use than trombone or backpack style sprinklers.
Vacuum assisted application
When sealing high relief wood, unstable burrs or crotch patterned blanks, vacuum assisted impregnation of the surface can be used. This method applies the sealant to the side grain and the end grain simultaneously, producing a well-sealed exterior surface. My use of this method is generally limited to pen blanks, but it can be adapted to larger turning squares quite easily with the right equipment.