Cold malming?

[johnminnitt]

I have always thought of malming as basically the sort of heat and resin treatment that Marc StLouis advocates so eleoquently.
However I came across, on Youtube, a suggestion that some beneficial effect (though, I assume, less) can be got through the application of resin and solvent (Pine resin and turpentine in this case) to the belly without the high-temperature heat treatment, in that the resin still penetrates the near-surface cells of the belly wood and sets, somewhat hardening it.
Has anyone heard of this, or even tried it, might it work or really be not much more than a varnish?

[Pat B]

I've not heard this but I also doubt it would be effective. The terp/pitch would only be absorbed a small amount on cold wood and I can't see how that would increase compression. Poly spray would be similar, I'd think.

[hoosierf]

Haven’t tried it but isn’t burnishing also reported have a similar benefit?

[PatM]

Using penetrating resinous finishes is common in the flyrod building community to increase compression resistance and waterproofing.

 You certainly can get stuff to soak into wood cold with a suitable solvent carrier but typically you would use heat or pressure to do so.

 Might as well go for maximum effect.

[hoosierf]

Using penetrating resinous finishes is common in the flyrod building community to increase compression resistance and waterproofing.

 You certainly can get stuff to soak into wood cold with a suitable solvent carrier but typically you would use heat or pressure to do so.

 Might as well go for maximum effect.

That makes me think of using heat and then dousing it with swell lock. I will try that on my next to see if it does anything.   Hmmmm

[johnminnitt]

Using penetrating resinous finishes is common in the flyrod building community to increase compression resistance and waterproofing.

 You certainly can get stuff to soak into wood cold with a suitable solvent carrier but typically you would use heat or pressure to do so.

 Might as well go for maximum effect.

Do you think moderate heat (eg hairdryer) would help penetration, rather than the full-on wood-altering roasting?
Obviously it wouldn't be as effective as the whole treatment, I just have aesthetic hesitations about the browning, especially with yew which I like in its normal colour.

Thanks anyway to all who have responded.

[George Tsoukalas]

John, I've never heard of that process before but it sounds interesting. If you try it, let us know how it works. 
I think any application of heat would speed the process.
Jawge

[Pat B]

I agree with George.  Even a little heat will help the solution penetrate into the wood and if nothing else it will seal the wood a bit better.
 O(n hickory and other whitewood bows, if I don't want to stain or dye the wood I will hand rub in oil with finely ground charcoal into the bow. The heat from the friction of hand rubbing helps it penetrate and cuts the "mighty white" appearance of the wood.

[Jim Davis]

jfyi, none of the standard dictionaries I checked include the word "malming." Is it another term somebody just decided to make up?

[Pat B]

...or fat fingers typing on a smart phone.

[PatM]

All words and terms are made up.

[Marc St Louis]

I know that when used on a limb right after the heat-treating it is drawn into the wood quite a ways.  I've seen this by heating up a limb after it has been tillered, especially so on a white-wood like Elm.  You can see the resins come up to the surface of the wood.

[Del the cat]

All words and terms are made up.

Absotively corright!
Del

[johnminnitt]

jfyi, none of the standard dictionaries I checked include the word "malming." Is it another term somebody just decided to make up?

I read somewhere (sorry, don't recall where, so it could be twaddle), that it is a Norwegian word, originally something to do with damaging pine trees in such a way that they produce more resin in the wood which makes the wood stronger.
As I say, I can't guarantee the accuracy of this, are there any Norwegian members out there?

[Jim Davis]

All words and terms are made up.

OK. to  avoid the peanuts, I should have noted that the "made up word" is not commonly recognized yet, and that I was unable to find a definition. I had an editor tell me that the language grows from the bottom--people who don't know the correct word just choose another or make one up. That seems ever so common on forums.