cross grain wood issues

[rustyrazor]

I had gotten some great looking spalted wood for a few hunters... it was cut across the grain instead of along it. Beautiful to look at but super brittle. handle broke in half right along the grain as i was tightening corby rivets just while lining things up to do the fronts of the handles. I did some testing afterwards on the other pieces i had gotten here and there and there is absolutely no comparison in strenght, so just a heads up (IF there was any question) that yes, cross grain wood is very weak by comparison, stabilized or not.

merry christmas

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Cross grain wood has to be sanded absolutely flat, then laminated .060" slab of Micarta or G-10. The tang has to be flat, and pressure from clamps and bolts only snug.

 

[rustyrazor]

thanks stacy.

when done like this is it suitable for hunters and outdoor knives? not gonna put it on a combat knife obviously but I don't want it to break when used under fairly normal circumstances. I was pretty disappointed at the light amount of bending it takes to break this stuff.