Curly Walnut... Whatcha think, worth stabilizing?

Fixall

Fixall

Brian
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Unless it's some really nice marbled or crotch claro walnut, I don't often bother sending walnut off to K&G for stabilizing.

Something about this curl is really catching my eye though. What do you guys think? Worth sending off to K&G?

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If it was hand rubbed. It'll darken with age. More warmth then stabilized. But the person having it, has got to know, how to take care of wood.

2¢
 
Yes indeed, it’s beautiful. I understand the fine suggestion above, and agree its a better option for many of us who enjoy caring for the wood. But if your customers are not savvy, easier just to stabilize and be done IMO
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
It is junk firewood - send it to me and I'll burn it for you.

Seriously - I'd stabilize it. It often comes back darker with more curl contrast.
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This might be blasphemous, but I cut down a walnut tree.
Had lots of logs, branches, etc.....

Walnut smells incredible when burning.
Kinda hard to describe. Spicy.
Like what a Christmas hardwood SHOULD smell like.
 
Thanks for the input guys! I’ll save a few blocks for some walnut aficionados, and send the rest to K&G.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
Keeping natural scales for sale is an excellent idea imho. I feel like a lot of places don't offer non stabilized woods.
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I actually have a whole line of lower priced, unstabilized wood scales coming to the site especially for people who are just starting out, or don’t want to drop the money on expensive, exotic stabilized woods, or just like the wonders of natural wood. :)

Bubinga, walnut, Pau Ferro, hormigo/macacauba…. As well as the higher end unstabilized woods like desert ironwood, african blackwood, cocobolo, kingwood, other rosewoods, etc.

I also have a line of smaller, slipjoint sized scales coming. We’ll see if there is a demand for that, lol.
 
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SwissHeritageCo said:
Keeping natural scales for sale is an excellent idea imho. I feel like a lot of places don't offer non stabilized woods.
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I use a lot of walnut wood for the handles. At the end of my mind is to make *plastic* out of that beautiful wood . I get walnut wood from a friend who makes furniture . It has been thermally treated and perfectly withstands all conditions . . .. . ..
 
Just to offer a dissenting opinion: don't stabilise it, there's enough plastic in our lives anyway
Would also make some lovely platters/shallow bowls if you know someone with a lathe
 
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