Lowell was nice enough to host us at his shop, which was quite interesting. One of the cool things he showed us was his treatment methods to make wood more water resistant. Seems like he buys a product called Cactus Juice by the gallon, and after subjecting the wooden pieces to a vacuum, he then pours this product over the wood. The vacuum causes most of the water in the wood to evaporate, and of course removes the air from the wood too, allowing plenty of room for the Cactus Juice to penetrate and works its wonders.
The photo shows a weight on top of the wood items being soaked, as if they float, coverage would not be complete.
Thanks for taking the time to host us, and for the refreshments Lowell.