attic find

T

tuskbuster

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Feb 4, 2015
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an old maple stock blank from over 30 yrs ago. ideas?
 
If it's been up in the attic for 30 years I don't see how it would need stabilizing. There can't be a wit of moisture in it by now.
 
Stabilizing will prevent moisture from going into the wood also.

Looking at that grain you should research the term chatoyance [sp?]. finished with that method it will pop your eyes out !
 
That is what I call Quilted Maple. It has much more going on that just curl. I just stabilized a batch of it. It looks even better when stabilized, and will polish to a glass like shine when sanded to 400 grit and buffed with white rouge. The final effect is very 3-D, with chatoyant waves rolling up and down the handle as you move it. Knifemakers search for boards like yours. You have found a real treasure.

Because you haven't enabled email, I can't send you one, but if you contact me by email I will give you some info on what to do with that board.
 
that was going on a 25/06 build back then till i scrounged a real nice piece of mesqiuite. 36x 10 x 2 1/2 im gonna wack er up and see how she looks in
.the quilting maybe too large for the size blades i make to really pop but guess can always sell for bowie blocks if they are. im not to puter savy stacy
could you fill me in on your suggestion.
 
What is the value of the stock-sized blank vs. handle-sized chunks? It seems to me that it might be worth more to a stock-maker than it is as knife handles. Small interesting pieces are much easier to find than large ones...
 
AR-Trvlr said:
What is the value of the stock-sized blank vs. handle-sized chunks? It seems to me that it might be worth more to a stock-maker than it is as knife handles. Small interesting pieces are much easier to find than large ones...
Click to expand...

That... Might actually be a valid point. Some well figured stock blanks are going for silly amounts of money these days, although I'm not sure about Maple blanks...
 
If the billet is 36X10X2.25, it would yield 35 BIG handle blocks, or about 50 regular handle blocks, or over 100 sets of scales. Even at $15-20 a block/set unstabilized, that would be a lot more than a 6BF plank would fetch. Stabilized it will double the value.

If it was AAAAA claro walnut, I would make a rifle stock from it, but this billet of maple would go for knives in my shop.
 
If you figure an unstabilized block of nice curly/quilted maple will bring $15-20 a block, it is a sure bet that it will bring $30-40 a block when stabilized. I have no problem selling them at that price ... or higher for select specimens.

The commercial places, like burl source, sell a block of stabilized high grade figured wood fro $60-80.

I see you sell stabilized curly Koa for $6 in The Exchange, which is at least twice the unstabilized cost as far as I know.


Anyway, I was only trying to offer some help to the OP. My price comment was in response that the batch of handle blocks and scales would have more value than the uncut board.
 
First off...let's compare apples to apples if we're going to do that. Koa is a LOT more expensive to source than curly or quilted maple. And I'll guarantee you I'm less expensive on that quality of koa (or most other things for that matter) than just about anyone around, and even in some cases by about half.

And quite frankly $60-$80 for maple is robbery. By all means, if you can sell it for that and people will buy it then more power to you.

I am well aware of the idea of markup for profit but there's also such a thing as price gouging.

Stabilizing has NEVER cost me more than $5 per block even on redwood and buckeye which suck up more resin than anything I know. Personally, I'm not comfortable marking up stabilizing 400%, when I did absolutely nothing in the process.

To each their own and I shall digress as this is drifting off topic.
 
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