A bit more about Lignum Vitae

E

elementfe

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May 3, 2008
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A shipwright friend just dropped off some blocks of LV for handle stock for the knife he wants.
When I pointed out that the longest straight grain scale I could get from them would be 3 1/4", he said that he wouldn't hesitate to use it either crossgrain or slab cut.
This is a very experienced woodworker, who builds like peoples' lives depend on his work, because they do, but the thought of using any wood like that gives me the jibblies....however, if any wood might be a candidate, it would be LV.
Can anyone give me some insight?
A search of BF archives has a couple comments that suggest that it's prone to cracking- and I can't really expect even G-Flex to bond well to it, necessarily, because of the natural wax, so I'll depend on the integrity of the wood between fasteners.
 
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As far as I know lignium isnt prone to cracking. At all. And yes, you could use it cross grain. I have used softer woods "like rosewoods" crossgrained for a beautiful effect. You will want to cut it thicker than you plan on using it, attach it to the handle and then thin it down when its on the handle.
 
Thank you, Greenberg!
Definitely an opportunity for some fun experiments- flex testing on some little slabs should tell all, but this is such a great source of 'been there done that" that I always like to arm myself before steppin out.
 
The end grain is incredibly resistant to crushing foces, but what its weak to is bending and shear forces. By keeping it backed "in this case by the tang" you can mostly eliminate those forces.
 
I don't know if this is still up for conversation but I have a large block of Lignum vitae and been considering cutting it down into blocks but then I read that it's endangered and rare now. I have had this block for a very long time and it's been waxed and has amazing color and figure. But I'm working on a rather large chopper and this block caught my eye. But then doing some reading says it might not be the best thing to use as it will split down the road. The 2nd picture does not show the true green color of the wood.

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I've got a hunk of LV that I've had for like 20 years, around 5 years ago I used some for scales on a
slipjoint. I can't say it ever broke loose form the steel liner but I've never had any wood move more
as far as expanding and contracting on a steel liner. And no it still has never broke loose from the liner.
YMMV.
Ken.
 
I have used it once and thought it was great stuff, although it did shrink a fair bit on the knife over the course of two years.
 
Can it be stabilized, I know it has its own oils and what not but usually when wood moves it's because it's taking or releasing moisture.
 
LOL. No way. It would scoff at any stabilizing resin I suspect. Remember that this is the wood that they made into shaft bearings on ships. If it can survive years of wear and exposure to nasty, salty bilge water.............
JTknives said:
Can it be stabilized, I know it has its own oils and what not but usually when wood moves it's because it's taking or releasing moisture.
Click to expand...
 
Then why does it move so much. Is it a function of heat that causes to it expand or shrink or moisture. I would think that if its moisture then it would be absorbing it or letting it go. If that's the case then we should be able to force do thing else in there.
 
It works so well as shaft logs because it stays under water all the time. If the ship is dry docked, it has to be continuously pumped out after launch until the shaft log absorbs enough water and swells up enough to allow the packing to be tightened around the shaft.

Tim
 
We had several pieces of Lignum that cracked. However, the wood is so tough we could not split it by putting a screwdriver in the crack and prying.

I personally would not use Lignum on a knife because of the "protected" status. IMO, it is just a matter of time until items with protected woods are treated like items with ancient ivory.

Chuck
 
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