(Ronseal, other) timber hardener?

[forestcreature]

my foredeck is a right mess! (under the previous owner) the samson post tore out, so there's a jagged stump going into the GRP at deck level. underneath that ought to be a kingplank going fore<->aft, which i assume stiffens the foredeck, and under that a post that goes behind the chain locker at least as far down as the front bunk level, perhaps down to the hull. this has been glassed in. it sounds pretty okay from tapping on the accessible parts. i'll find out more as i continue working. maybe the rotted wood i am seeing topside is that post, maybe not

ANYWAY, my first inclination is to deal with the great big yawning hole on my deck. i have heard of a Ronseal timber hardener, and i wonder if i could flood the visible parts of the timber from topside, prior to filling in the hole left by the samson post and glassing the deck all neat like an owl. i am working on the assumption that the post is still sound enough to save. has anybody got any experience with this? or alternative ideas? does it actually displace moisture, too? i've heard tell of acetone, thinned epoxy, etc.

 

[Topcat47]

I used such a product, in my naivity when I first bought my Nic26. It worked after a fashion but not for long and stained the area where it was applied. Fortunately there is little structural wood on my Nic but I wouldn't think of using it on a spams post or anything involving loads.

 

[ltcom]

Bonda is a substance that hardens rotten timber and cures via moisture (as far as I know - only heard of it - not tried it)


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bonda&oq=bonda&aqs=chrome..69i57.1361j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=bonda+wood+hardener

 

[ghostlymoron]

I used Ronseal wood hardener on the frame to the main hatch on my Mirror Offshore where it had gone squidgy due to a blocked drain hole that had allowed rainwater to collect. I cadged some off a friend as I couldn't find it in shops. It worked well.

 

[maby]

Those timber hardeners are fine to stabilise rotting wood and minimise future degradation, but they do not restore the lost strength so don't use them on anything structural. I have been using the Ronseal hardener on some rotten wood in a door frame this weekend - I removed the seriously rotted wood first, then painted on hardener to the exposed surface before filling the hole back with a two-pack filler. But it is not structural and the result will be fine. The damage you describe above sounds rather more structural.

 

[ianat182]

EverBuild Wet Rot Wood Hardener I have used on the fascias of our Park home whoich seems to do what it says on the . cost £6.99 per250ml can , and for interior or exterior use,but do not use as a surface treatment.
Deep penetrating formula ;reinforces decaying wood and provides a base for 2 part wood fillers.
It is applied by brush and deeper penetration can be obtained by drilling small holes in the material. appears to be a resin that dries in 6 hours.
May do the job for you.

ianat182

 

[forestcreature]

cool, i will look into these mentions, thank you

the foredeck feels stiff enough, so i think that the post is doing the remaining job that it has after parting ways with the samson post