Burl and figured wood questions.

B

BurlSource

Joined
Jun 6, 2021
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14
Some of the old timers might recognize my user name. I am Mark Farley. I used to provide some pretty good stabilized wood to my knife making friends. A couple years ago I started working on a farm. Right now I work 60+ hours a week so there is no time left over for the wood business.

I have worked with figured wood for a while and have learned most of the things that you should not do. I have ruined more good wood than most people will see in their lifetime. So...if you want to learn from my mistakes I will be hanging out here more often.

Post any wood questions and I will do what I can to give you good answers based on hands on experience.
 
A.McPherson said:
Hey mark! Good to see you back!
Still in the redwoods?
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Yes I am. Well about 30 minutes away from the redwood state parks. I keep having an urge to head to the coast in search of redwood burl even though all my woodshed tools are in storage. I guess I am a wood junky.....still.
 
Mark!!! I was wondering where you went! I am Taz575 from the CKTG forums and used to order a ton of wood from you! I had to shut down due to allergies to natural woods, but am back up and running with stabilized woods again now. I went looking for your webpage to get more wood and was really upset that I didn't see you still around doing it.

Can you tell us who you had stabilize your woods years ago? I have tried other brands, but most don't seem to have the same feel/look as yours did! I really liked the hard, solid, glossy look your woods gave. Some stabilized stuff I have used recently still feels somewhat porous?

Most of the stuff in the pics I got from Mark years ago!
USqvys3.jpeg


17aWyqf.jpeg
 
BurlSource said:
Yes I am. Well about 30 minutes away from the redwood state parks. I keep having an urge to head to the coast in search of redwood burl even though all my woodshed tools are in storage. I guess I am a wood junky.....still.
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Once a wood junkie, always a wood junkie.
Good to see you back
 
I am new to using stabilized wood and bought a huge batch of spalted maple that was stabilized by K&G. It has some internal voids and soft spots though not a lot and I have been repairing them with super glue. I have noticed that when I buff it up it's gets a great finish but the darker hard parts stay glossy but the rest looses it's gloss. It's not horrible but I would like it to look and last better. I'm not complaining about the wood it's self because I got it for a fantastic price and I am putting it on value knives that people would not be able to have wood for the price and everyone loves it but still I want to do it better if possible.
 
Taz said:
Mark!!! I was wondering where you went! I am Taz575 from the CKTG forums and used to order a ton of wood from you! I had to shut down due to allergies to natural woods, but am back up and running with stabilized woods again now. I went looking for your webpage to get more wood and was really upset that I didn't see you still around doing it.

Can you tell us who you had stabilize your woods years ago? I have tried other brands, but most don't seem to have the same feel/look as yours did! I really liked the hard, solid, glossy look your woods gave. Some stabilized stuff I have used recently still feels somewhat porous?

Most of the stuff in the pics I got from Mark years ago!
USqvys3.jpeg


17aWyqf.jpeg
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I recognize a bunch of the wood in your photos.
I like K&G best for stabilizing for many of the reasons you mentioned. They do great work, are easy to communicate with and are nice people.
 
Storm W said:
I am new to using stabilized wood and bought a huge batch of spalted maple that was stabilized by K&G. It has some internal voids and soft spots though not a lot and I have been repairing them with super glue. I have noticed that when I buff it up it's gets a great finish but the darker hard parts stay glossy but the rest looses it's gloss. It's not horrible but I would like it to look and last better. I'm not complaining about the wood it's self because I got it for a fantastic price and I am putting it on value knives that people would not be able to have wood for the price and everyone loves it but still I want to do it better if possible.
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Stabilized spalted wood will usually still require some fills. The punkier the wood before stabilizing, the more fills. I would apply a small amount of ca glue to cracks, voids and open pores. After it dries then fill further. Best to fill a little at a time for the best fills. Some areas of spalted blocks will have a different texture and differences in shine when polished. I like to apply a couple coats of Danish oil then wood paste wax. Then buff for a more even finish.
 
I kept some of the primo pieces of Koa and other woods (Rosewood burl :D)for my stash for when I make a sick knife for myself or a customer :)
 
Taz said:
I kept some of the primo pieces of Koa and other woods (Rosewood burl :D)for my stash for when I make a sick knife for myself or a customer :)
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Don't make a "sick" knife, make a really NICE knife :) Yea, ok I know slang words change over time, like "bad", it means something that's not good. Harkens back to Clockwork Orange movie.
 
Ken H> said:
Don't make a "sick" knife, make a really NICE knife :) Yea, ok I know slang words change over time, like "bad", it means something that's not good. Harkens back to Clockwork Orange movie.
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Nah, get with the times! make a poggers knife! :P

How do you work out the best way to cut a piece to show off the figure?
 
BurlSource said:
Some of the old timers might recognize my user name. I am Mark Farley. I used to provide some pretty good stabilized wood to my knife making friends. A couple years ago I started working on a farm. Right now I work 60+ hours a week so there is no time left over for the wood business.

I have worked with figured wood for a while and have learned most of the things that you should not do. I have ruined more good wood than most people will see in their lifetime. So...if you want to learn from my mistakes I will be hanging out here more often.

Post any wood questions and I will do what I can to give you good answers based on hands on experience.
Click to expand...

Hey Mark. Its been a long time. I think i am one of the only guys who was selling wood back then who is stil selling, but there are many many more. I still follow a lot of business rules I learned from copying you.
 
i have found well stabilized wood sinks in water. i also noticed most of the stabilized wood i have bought off ebay does not sink. that means when i finish it some spots will not be as shiny as others because it was not saturated with the liquid. i only use K&G now.
 
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