When to use wood hardener

[Paul Maue]

I rough turned a piece of spalted sycamore a couple of monthes ago that had soft punky wood. I bought a can of wood hardener to soak into the soft areas but I don't know when to apply it. Right now the wood is about 3/4" thick. If I appy it now will it completely penetrate this thickness or do I turn it down close to the final dimension and then apply it?

[Allen Neighbors]

I never used it, but what do the directions say about penetration depths?
I've used my lacquer wash (25%Lacquer/75%Thinner) to help bolster punky wood. Works well, sometimes.
One man I know of uses White Glue, mixed 50/50 with water. Soaks it, then lets it dry. I haven't tried that yet, but it sounds promising.
Sometimes I think I want to agree with whoever said, "Life's too short to turn (expletive) wood."

[Bernie Weishapl]

I use what I call a epoxy cocktail which is 5 minute epoxy mixed well and then mix in DNA till it is the consistancy of milk. Paint it on and the DNA will migrate the epoxy into the wood. I let it dry overnight and the turn. Works well.