Ankrom Exotics , any dealings with them ?

[Jack O'Neill]

Any body have any dealings with Ankrom exotics stabilized woods ? I have dealt with them twice on some wood and just used the 1st piece last month . The customer today sent me pics of the wood cracking . This was a block of stabilized York gum burl which I cut into scales .

Was wondering if any one knows if there stabilizing is poor or is this just a freak incident . I want to be fair to them but cannot have this happening .

 

[SHostetler]

I've probably used 10 blocks from Ankrom and never had a problem. Their customer service has also been excellent.

Regards
Steve Hostetler

 

[Phil Dwyer]

Hi Jack,

I've had good dealings with Pat in the past (haven't bought any from them in a while) and got some fantastic wood from them.

One thing I've noticed--actually a friend REALLY noticed, so I took notice more too--is their stabilized blocks smell quite strongly of the acrylics they are infused with. At first I wasn't sure which of my blocks were smelling, so I took them all out and spread them out a day ago with a fan running on them for 24 hours. Then I earnestly sniffed every bloody block I have. The WSSI and K&G ones have little to no noticeable odor. The Akrom Exotics and Burl Source (their earlier self-stabilized ones) blocks are quite odoriferous. Woodlab too, but maybe not quite so bad.

Not sure if it means anything, but there it is. Have you noticed anything like this with your various blocks? I was going to make a thread asking folks about their different stabilized sources and assessments of such, but then I saw your thread. (I hope this isn't too divergent from your thread intent.)

All the best, Phil

 

[Larry D. Davis]

Ankrom uses that Resinol 90C stuff which Burl source tried to use, but was not successful with. It doesn't polish up as well as some specific cross linked methacrylates They are really good folks at Ankrom and am sure they'll replace bad stuff. I really like what they've done with casting resin.

 

[bacustomknives]

I have used alot of the product,exspecially there cactus,never had an issue,great plp

 

[Gahagan]

I have used over 40 blocks from them and never had a problem. They have great customer service and the woods have great grain and finish.

 

[Jack O'Neill]

I forgot , never happened with out pics , so here they are . Both scales split in different places and no where near the pins . Real bummer .

Glad to hear good things about them , I wrote Pat and sent these pics .

These block was bought in April , cut into scales in July and put on the knife on 11-05-2010 . Been in New York since then .

 

[Larry D. Davis]

Those look like drying cracks/checks as they are wide and will probably continue to widen. Impregnating resins do not displace water in wood and is why only dry material works best. It happens to all of us from time to time. There might have been some micro checks in the wood after processing that didn't show up until exposed to the environment.

 

[Jack O'Neill]

Those look like drying cracks/checks as they are wide and will probably continue to widen. Impregnating resins do not displace water in wood and is why only dry material works best. It happens to all of us from time to time. There might have been some micro checks in the wood after processing that didn't show up until exposed to the environment.

Thanks Larry for the info . Guess I should be looking at your site .

 

[Jack O'Neill]

For every bodies info .

Pat just contacted me and is going to replace the block of wood . I cannot complain about that and he is a stand up guy .