Common, starting woods? (Handle Material)

D

Don Nguyen

Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
1,043
Hello BladeForums,

I'm new here, about to start making my first knives.

I'm wondering what would be good choices for handle material? Something cheap, simple to work with, and will give me a good starting point of understanding a handle?



Thanks in advance,



-Don Nguyen
 
Cheap often means local.

What is cheap for me may not be cheap for you.

What country are you in?
Filling out your profile will help others help you.

Maple is plentiful here.

Solid wood Hardwood floor samples can be free.
 
hickory is what i use. Get an ax handle from a hardware store, and cut to length. half the work is already done, and you can get many handles out of one ax handle.
 
I usually pick up boards of hardwood from a local store. Cocobolo is my favorite to work with so far. The bloodwood that I tried looks nice, but is harder to work with. Hardwood samples would probably be a good choice.
 
Maybe try your local cabinet shop. I built cabinets for over 20 years and most all figured/crotch pieces went in the trash. If only I had knew
 
As others have said local might be your cheapest route depending where you live. Check with your local saw mill and see what they make. Most are more than glad to give a scrap piece for little of nothing or free. Get a piece of kiln dried hard wood and you will be good.
 
Hardwood flooring samples are pretty good. Check with some flooring installers. I picked up some hard maple, black walnut, oak and ipe flooring at a building materials recycling center for cheap.

ric
 
I suggest you check out re-sale stores like Good Will. I've found some nice, if mysterious, wood in the form of book ends, bowls, trays, and even salad tongs.

- Paul Meske
 
-Fire wood
-axe handle
-tree
-old furniture
-Whatever you gan get for free(or cheap)
As sayd before, I can get leather washers for a stacked handle for free. A cabinet maker might get wood for free and a hunter might get antlers for free.
 
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