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sap leakage

1326 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  PandLLittle
Ihave an old wood bowl. It was used for making bread long ago in santa fe, the knot holes are leaking sap. I have cleaned it with lye water, and that really cleaned most of the sap out. Set in the sun to dry, snd it has started leaking again. What do i do? Thanks so much for any help. Linda
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ihave an old wood bowl. It was used for making bread long ago in santa fe, the knot holes are leaking sap. I have cleaned it with lye water, and that really cleaned most of the sap out. Set in the sun to dry, snd it has started leaking again. What do i do? Thanks so much for any help. Linda
i am new to woodworking.com
Ihave an old wood bowl. It was used for making bread long ago in santa fe, the knot holes are leaking sap. I have cleaned it with lye water, and that really cleaned most of the sap out. Set in the sun to dry, snd it has started leaking again. What do i do? Thanks so much for any help. Linda
Sounds like resin in the knots coming out. I think options are to either keep cleaning up the resin or to apply a finish coat which will act as a barrier to keep the resin in the knot.

You do not say what the board is used for at present.

If you want to clean up the resin I would use a solvent rather than lye. Perhaps acetone (the main solvent in fingernail polish remover).

If you want to try a finish coat you will need to clean off the resin with a solvent and then test that the finish will adhere to the knot. Example of a finish to try is wipe on polyurethane. May be easier for you to apply than the brush type.
Can you tell the type of the wood? It must be a really soft wood.
try some knot sealer
Putting the bowl in the sun is going to make it ooze sap more. I would wash it off with mineral spirits. If you didn't mind have a finish on it you could coat it with shellac. Shellac works good for that.
Ihave an old wood bowl. It was used for making bread long ago in santa fe, the knot holes are leaking sap. I have cleaned it with lye water, and that really cleaned most of the sap out. Set in the sun to dry, snd it has started leaking again. What do i do? Thanks so much for any help. Linda
What changed in the use , treatment or storage of the bowl that liquefied the sap after all this time ?
What changed in the use , treatment or storage of the bowl that liquefied the sap after all this time ?
That is what I was wondering. You do not normally see that problem with and "old" whatever.

George
Sounds like resin in the knots coming out. I think options are to either keep cleaning up the resin or to apply a finish coat which will act as a barrier to keep the resin in the knot.

You do not say what the board is used for at present.

If you want to clean up the resin I would use a solvent rather than lye. Perhaps acetone (the main solvent in fingernail polish remover).

If you want to try a finish coat you will need to clean off the resin with a solvent and then test that the finish will adhere to the knot. Example of a finish to try is wipe on polyurethane. May be easier for you to apply than the brush type.
Thanks so much for your help. this bowl is supposedly about a hundred years old. It is 43 inches long and 18 inches wide. I don't know what type of wood it is, but it is soft. I intend to use it for decorative use only. I really like the old primitive antiques. I have cleaned a lot of old would, but never had this problem before. thank you so much, and I will try your remedy. thanks linda
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