Wood Hardener for Rotted Wood 500ml (Packaging May Vary)

I used Rustins Wood Hardener on several rotten timber areas and it genuinely transformed soft crumbling wood into a solid stable surface. It penetrates well, dries fast and creates a tough plastic like finish that’s perfect for filling or repainting. It’s easy to apply but wear gloves, once it’s on your skin it’s a nightmare to remove. The results are excellent and it’s saved me from replacing window frames and sills. A reliable product I’d happily buy again.

This is a thin resin type material. It reminds me of the liquid used for fibre-glass, or perhaps a thin version of PU glue. It's stinky and pretty horrible if you get it on your fingers. It's readily absorbed by wood, and the end effect is rather like painting it with yacht varnish, except it's rock hard in two hours. It sets like plastic so the surface is water repellent and tough. Looks like a varnish, so you may not need any finishing at all, or seems to be a good base for paint. All in all it's a fantastic product. This is the first time I have used it, it won't be the last. I had imagined this to be absorbed like a very thin liquid and to then convert all the soft wood to something really hard. That's not really what it does. Yes, there is some absorption, but not much. It forms a solid, yes, but only the top of the treated wood. So, I think the way to proceed is to thoroughly soak the wood with preservative, then when that's dry, hit it with this to form a water resistant surface that protects and provides a great key for filler. Highly recommended.

I used Rustins Wood Hardener for Rotted Wood (500 ml) on some areas of exterior timber that had started to soften due to rot. In terms of function, the product does what it is designed to do. It soaks into deteriorating wood fibres and helps stabilise them, leaving the timber noticeably firmer once it has cured. The liquid itself is very thin and penetrates well into soft wood, which makes it effective for consolidating damaged areas before filling or repairing. Application is straightforward with a brush, and it spreads easily over the affected timber. However, the biggest issue with this product is the very strong smell and fumes. The odour is extremely powerful and lingers for quite a long time after application. Even with good ventilation, the fumes are quite unpleasant and can quickly make an indoor environment uncomfortable to work in. Because of this, I would strongly recommend using it outdoors or in very well-ventilated areas only. If you do need to use it inside, proper ventilation and possibly a respirator would be sensible precautions. In summary, it is an effective wood hardener that does its job, but the fumes are significant and something buyers should be aware of before using it indoors.

Seems to work well (although you have to use a whole lot for problem areas), but the cap is AWFUL. the seal broke, so I had to dig a hole with a screwdriver, and the 'pinch to open' cap won't open without a pair of pliers.

Great product. A lot more effective than other products on the market