How does one thin the epoxy...sounds like a great idea.
Ive gone through gallons of epoxy, in my old hobby, building and restoring little boats.
I have thinned epoxy with acetone, lacquer thinner, and alcohol. It only takes a tiny bit (Ive read no more than 5%). Solvent thinning significantly reduce final strength. Avoid skin contact because the solvents make the epoxy easily penetrate skin, which is not at all healthy. I have abandoned this method.
Heating epoxy increases viscosity. Pot life is shortened by a lot. Ive had batches start smoking. I dont think heating Acraglass is advisable because that crap kicks too fiercely as is. I dont like Acraglass at all.
Heating the wood works very well. When the epoxy contacts warm wood, it warms and the viscosity lowers. Better yet, as the temperature of the wood falls, the epoxy is sucked in. This is a common technique to repair rotten end grain on canoe ribs and such. This is how I do stock heads. Ive only done a few. Dont take any of this as gospel. Im a rank amateur.
It should be said that impregnating punky wood with epoxy does not restore strength. It only makes the wood harder. The wood fibers are still damaged.