Thunderstick, this is a guess as to why oiled wood may absorb water.<BR>Wood is made up of cells called lignen these cells are what wood fiber is composed of. As wood dries the lignen cells shrink in diameter but very little in length. Replacing the water in the cells with an oil will cause the cells to swell back up, but not to their original size. The oil on a stock is only a few molecules deep into the wood. Lignen fibers being roundish have interstictual space between each cell voids. These voids provide a conduit for water molecules to travel to the dry lignen cells benigth the oiled cells thus causing the wood to absorb and retain moisture. In order to stop this you must make a barrier on the surface of the wood that is water proof IE: plastic etc. <BR>Wood is natural in design to absorb water molecules. In order to seal water out you use a molecule that is larger than water molecule to plug up the lignen cells and the interstitual spaces between cells. To penetrate you use a smaller molecule. <P>Science 101<P>Bullwnkl.
