Acceptable knife scales

Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
7
I just received a set of scales I purchased from Woodcraft. These things are nowhere near flat. Is this normal? Should I complain to Woodcraft or the manufacturer "Cormark International. I have no idea how much work it will be to flatten them. I added a couple pics. Advice would be appreciated.
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If you have a belt sander it won't take much to get them flat. I would just not purchase there again and buy off vendors on this forum.


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I wouldn't say that's abnormal. I believe they even list a disclaimer about shrinkage, warping, etc... and I would expect a little movement in non-stabilized pieces like that. Keep in mind that a lot of this wood probably crossed over an ocean and came from a completely different climate, may have been cut wet, and may not have even been dried or acclimated by woodcraft. If using natural, non-stabilized materials, it is always best to get your pieces oversized so you can account for any necessary flattening/machining, and then give the wood a while to acclimate when you receive it (or have it stabilized).

I also agree with Ghostman and would make any future purchase from some of the fine sellers on this site. Not to say every piece of wood doesn't change shape in one form or another, but when you buy from guys who aren't processing multiple tons of the material, and individually handle each piece, you're likely to get a little nicer piece to begin with (not that your pieces are bad, but still...).
 
I don't know about others expectations but when I buy natural materials I expect some of that.

When I make them myself it even happens.

If I'm buying G10 or carbon fiber I have different expectations than wood.
 
Thanks for the replies. This is my first knife and second handle. The first scales I bought off Amazon and they were almost perfect. A few minutes on my marble block and they were good to go.


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As others have said this is somewhat expected from natural materials.

Since i was just in woodcraft two days ago and bought a set of scales I can say that you get what you pay for. When I can walk in and look over 100 pieces of wood, often times I don't buy anything or only buy a couple sets or blocks because a lot of it isn't what we are looking for as knifemakers. If you keep buying from woodcraft, ebay, amazon, etc online sight unseen and save money, expect to get some that are only good for a shop knife or simply won't work at all.

The alternative is to buy from known sources who cater to knifemakers. You will pay more, sometimes a lot more than you would at the places I mentioned, but you pretty much know what you are getting. I've been disappointed on ebay and rewarded with quality wood at a discount, but I know its a risk. When I buy from burl source or K&G I pay more but I have never been disappointed. Usually I get better than I was expecting.

-Clint
 
I had a resource right down the road. It easy to forget it's there. I walked into Johnson's Workbench yesterday. The selection wasn't great but I know it changes regularly. I picked up a piece of 3/8" quartersawn red oak for $3.00 from the bargain bin.


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Any natural handle material will move. Depend on it.
Learn to get them flat before assembly.
It's all part of knife making.
 
If you like red oak, your local cabinet shop probably has a trash can full they would give you.
 
Its not terribly uncommon, but it does speak somewhat to the wood that was cut from, as paduak tends to be a rather stable wood.

As other guys pointed out, its about time. When I sell scales, I make sure to surface and machine them down flat, true and even so both scales are the same thickness, but I sell a few hundred blocks a year. When you are selling thousands, It doesnt matter as much to them.
 
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