Can it be stabilized?

[J. Hoffman]

I need to make several knives out of a piece of Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). I usually send out everything that can be stabilized for stabilizing, with the exception of Desert Ironwood, Olive and other oily hard woods. This stuff is very dense and heavy, does anyone know if it will take stabilizing? I figured I would ask here before calling K&G.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You can call K&G and speak to the chap in the stabilizing room, or Ken.
I can't recall doing hornbeam, but it should work fine compared with similar woods I have done.

 

[ea42]

It has a similar hardness to mesquite and I've had that stabilized with good results. Nowhere near as hard as desert ironwood or cocobolo, two woods that don't require stabilization.

Eric

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I believe it has a long history of making tool handles.
Long before stabilization