A variety of colorful, coated wooden blocks arranged in rows on a workbench, showcasing different vibrant hues and grain patterns. A screwdriver and cables are also visible on the bench.

What is Stabilised Wood?

I am regularly asked what is stabilised wood?

How do I know if a piece of wood is stabilised?

Does this wood need to be stabilised?

How do you stabilise wood?

How much does it help?

A person holding two wooden pieces with arrows drawn on them, separated by a green spacer.

Warping

Why does Stabilised wood sometimes warp?

Can it be fixed?

How can I mitigate these issues in future?

I tried to stabilise my own wood and it warped! What happened?

Black-gloved hand holding a polished wooden knife against a grassy background.

How to Finish Stabilised Knife Handles

Knife handles can be difficult to finish. They will be handled, so soft finishes are not really suitable, and even the highest mirror sheens will dull with use. These handles are also usually made with extremely dense, oily, figured or stabilised woods. These require different finishing techniques to other applications