The influence of dose rate and total dose of ionizing radiation on the yield and molecular weight for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in basswood were examined. Non-reversible swelling of wood samples occurred during impregnation and radiation. The addition of butyl methacrylate (BuMA) to the impregnation mixture increases the content of polymer in wood and decreases the irreversible swelling. The possibility of application of this method to the consolidation of damaged historic wood (without polychromy) was studied.