Attaching Jamacain Ironwood scales to Damascus

[kenhills]

Quick question. I am finishing up some scales to put on a Damascus blade. The scales I have chosen are heartwood Jamaican Ironwood. They have a very waxy feel to them. These scales are not stabilized and the wood has been in my basement for at least 25 years so they are as seasoned as they are going to get. In the past in addition to pinning the scaled I have always used 15 minute epoxy and It has always worked fine. I'm just not so sure about using it on this knife in this application. So.....Any body have any experience with this type of wood or can any one suggest the best type of glue. Thanks

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Your wood may be some type of Hornbeam or other hardwood, possibly a Copaifara variety ( also called "Diesel Tree" ,from Suriname and the Caribbean).This tree has only usable heartwood ( as far as the wood goes), which is oily/waxy.They actually tap the trees to get Bio-diesel/kerosene.
This, and many other types of wood, are called Ironwood with locality naming, such as your "Jamaican Ironwood".A few are common Ironwood, but most are something else.
Desert Ironwood, Olneye tesota, is a different animal entirely.

The wood you have should make fine scales though. Some tricks for mounting oily/waxy woods are;
Pin or bolt (I prefer Corby Bolts) it well. If using pins, raise domed heads.
Use a good grade ,slow cure epoxy (1 hour to 24 hour cure). Wipe the gluing surface down well with acetone just prior to glue-up, to de-grease it.
Sand slow, and avoid all heat, especially , do not let the tang metal get hot and break down the glue joint (the metal can get several hundred degrees while the handle wood gets barely warm). Hand sanding beyond 220 grit is a good idea.

Stacy

 

[kenhills]

Thanks,

Will post pictures when it's finished.