Spraying wood to soften

[bbeery]

Stupid of me to have forgotton, but it has been a long time since I've sprayed a piece to soften the wood for ease of carving. What do you use? Plain water will work but some prefer a 50/50 mixture of water and alchohol....I think???
Any feed back will be appreciated.

[carverken]

I don't do it often, but on end grain and very hard stock I use 50/50 water / alcohol

[Anthony Filetti]

BB,
...some also use just straight alcohol as well...

[whitecree]

I don't reccommend this as it makes carving toxic as all get out, but if you want to soften wood, get some pure, waterless ammonia and soak the wood for a couple of hours. Turns wood into silly putty, then when the ammonia evapourates, it returns to being wood.

Yeah, water or a 50/50 mix with inchohol. Talking

[slivers&dust]

hmm
thanks for posting that, I've never heard of this before. (been out of carving awhile) I will need to try it myself.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

at .68 a quart....I use straight rubbing alcohol....don't have to worry about water stains that way.

[Kenny_S]

What HI HO said!

[AlArchie]

Or you can try some straight Jack Daniels or better yet some Cutty Sark. No, not on the wood, 2 fingers in a glass. The wood will seem a lot softer and more compliant!

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Yeh but you sure can't get JD for .68 a quart, not even 10 times that!

errr, uh....ummmm.....so I've been told!

[Kenny_S]

Al, that would be two fingers high eh? One index finger on each hand,about 5 inches apart I am a think'in.

Hmm, Jack Daneils of J.W. Dante hmmm, some good old Southern Confort. Ya know the stuff that picks you up and then slams you face down if you have to much. Like Hi Hosaid, so I am told.