African Blackwood

[rtj1981]

I'm about to use African Blackwood for the first time, I have read that this doesn't need to be stabilized but I have also seen it stabilized. Should I have it sent off to be stabilized or is ok to use as is?

 

[A C Richards]

One of the few woods that really does not need it. Very stable and dense. One of my favorites.

 

[jdm61]

One of the few woods that really does not need it. Very stable and dense. One of my favorites.

there are quite a few woods that don't "need" to be stabilized. Ironwood is one that REALLY doesn't need it...lol. One of the disadvanatges of stabilized wood that I have found from working with a few pieces is, aside from the horrible fiberglass like smell when grinding, you can't play around with changing the color of the wood as easily as with natural wood. I have found that natural blackwood, amboyna burl and lignum vitae darken when hit with linseed oil and exposed to air for a couple of days. Go to my website and compare the color of the amboyna on the two knives on the first page, whihc are oiled natural wood and the bowie on the gallery page, which is stabilized and was darkened a little bit with a thin smear of epoxy. The natural oiled handles are a fair bit darker.