You should talk to Gary M. from the Metuchen Underwater Club. He once recovered a latern with a wood handle and was able to preserve the wood perfectly. The problem is that there are probably worms in the wood. The worms are leaving or dying in the freshwater, but they have left worm holes or paths in the wood. Once the wood dries out it can crumble. You have to "refill" the holes or gaps created by the worms. It's a slow methodical process to do it, but it works. After 6 months in a freshwater soak, you will need to start soaking it with sugar water (10%), for the first month, then 20% the second, then 30% and so on. The sugar crystals get into the holes and just stay there. After 6 months of this. Then you can remove it from the soaking process and when it dries out it won't crumble. Hope it helps.
R.J.
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