Suggest to your friend with the failed wood that he use a product called Git-Rot.
It is a pent rating (low viscocity) epoxy which generally works ad advertised.
From the article.
Another set of furniture tested, described as mahogany, and bought from Zhuomei Imported Real Wood Furniture Pavilion on Taobao, the e-commerce site, was composed of cottonwood, according to the commission.
If the furniture is made of cottonwood, they would need to soak the whole thing in Git-Rot. It is so weak that branches fall off when the wind isn't blowing.