Stabilized wood

[Rockmore]

Ok all you hard core DIYers... most of you do your own
or in the hobby business of modifying to make the tube amps
better.

Everybody wants to be a metal head, but I have seen some
really nice chassis' that integrate decent cosmetic wood - at
least on the sides. Even on a Chinese tube amp, since youre saving
money on them to begin with, it would look nice. I have
considered this. Since the stabilized wood properties are
half synthetic, it seems perfect for anything having to do
with blocking conductance and heat.

Who has used or uses stabilized wood to do this? Seems it would
be perfect.

http://www.stabilizedwood.com/clear.shtml
http://www.stabilizedwood.com/ddye.shtml

 

[athos56]

Sigh, then I'd have to improve my wood working skills

I'd try it, my speakers were a PITA to cut, build square and then veneer. It seems like this would be an easy way to add wood sides or fronts to an amp. I wonder how this stuff cuts...

 

[Rockmore]

LOL... would have to be for the size of a amp, or smaller. Definitely not for speaker enclosures due to cost. You see this used sometimes for pen stock. Check out the links in the original post. It's not cheap, but would be perfect for amp chassis improvements, rebuilds, or upgrades.

If one wanted to use it for speaker enclosures, it would be a real synthetic look at 3 to 4 times the cost of MDF or other wood- exotic wood veneer included.

The reason its perfect for amp chassis' is wouldn't take a lot to get the shape and size you wanted with minimum woodworking equipment or skills.

 

[wrenchone]

I might consider buying some of this stuff if it was pre-made. Back in the 60's there was this product called Novawood. It was essentially wood impregnated wih acrylic monomer and polymerized by exposure to gamma radiation. It was extremely hard stuff - my neighbor at the time was using it to turn some chess pieces.