Q: I am a novice wood turner and want to minimize the loss of the vibrant colors found in many of the woods that I have spent lots of money on. I heard of something about Ciba Lignostab 1198 Wood Stabilizing additive. Is this for me? Any information would greatly be appreciated.
A: Traditionally, the way to block fading from sunlight is with UV inhibitors. There are three basic types: UV blockers, UV absorbers, and HALS. Blockers generally cause a loss in clarity, while absorbers and HALS do not. The most common of the UV absorbers are ketol enol reaction products made by Ciba under the Tinuvin brand. They work best when used in conjunction with HALS (hindered amine light stabilizers), also made by Ciba.
These products are added in proper amounts to the finish itself, thus adding UV and color protection. Many exterior coatings contain them. Because of the problems formulating with them, they have not been sold to the general public as a user added material.
Ciba Lignostab 1198 is a new breed of HALS designed to work in the wood itself instead of in the finish. It, too, works best when paired with a finish containing UV absorbers. Knowing Ciba’s long and admirable history with such products, I have no doubt this one works just as they claim. However, they generally sell their products only to finish manufacturers or wood products manufacturers, and not to end users. To date, I have seen no evidence that they plan to sell this product directly to consumers either. If you find anyone selling it, please let me know.
Michael Dresdner
straight talk about wood finishing
Leave a Reply