Can Ringed Gidgee be stabilized?

[Danbo]

Over the last 4 months, I have picked up several custom knives with Ringed Gidgee handles. ALL have shrunken up to the point where you can feel the sharp edges of the thonghole liners, pins and bolts on the handles.

Man, I thought this Gidgee wood was the shiznits? I was under the impression that it was as stable as ironwood. ???

 

[Bruce Bump]

Good question Dan. I need that answer too. I am about to get some gidgee after all the rage about it.

 

[Danbo]

Don't get me wrong; I still love the wood. It's very beautiful, but maybe the wood used on mine wasn't fully dry? All I'm saying is, don't expect it to act like ironwood or stabilized wood. It will shrink.

 

[Raymond Richard]

I don't know anything about the gidgee but I have had ebony that was professionally stabalized and I just don't think it did it any good. I have also seen snakewood that has been stabalized. I just don't see how the chemicals can do it any good with both of these being so dense. With most the stabalized woods I have used you can smell the additives but with the ebony it worked and smelt just like it would have been naturally.

 

[Mike Hull]

I hope it just wasn't dry. I don't think there would be a problem getting Gidgee stabilized, it's one of the acacia's, just like Koa, and looks just like it.

I also hope it's not anything like Snakewood, which I think was named for it's movement.

I've had stabilized Snakewood shrink, and swell on me, in the house.
I won't use it anymore, just too many problems with it.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Mike, Makes me wonder about the snakewood you had mentioned. I wonder if there is any actual weight gain to it after it is stabalized? Snakewood is spendy enough and then you go have it or buy it already stabalized and its even more. I really feel like someone is getting riped off. I really think snakewood would work great in a 0 atmosphere condition..... I've still got a piece I paid 50 bucks for and I'm afraid to use it.....

 

[B . Buxton]

I've used several pieces of gidgee and that stuff never moved once finished. I think its probably the best wood I've ever used and sure wish I could get some more. I don't understand the shrinking must have been wet from outside moisture like rain or something and never had a chance to dry back to its normal moisture content. Sorry to hear of your problems, thats a first I've ever heard a problem with it.

Bill

 

[Peter Del Raso]

Danbo, you can stabilize gidgee, Shawn McIntyre uses it that way sometimes. I use danish or tung oil to finish it, followed by hard drying cabinet makers wax over that and have never had any problems.

As a comparison, snakewood always has some movement no matter what I do. David Brodziac gets around the problem by using a thin two-pack polyester coating.