Cutting Zebrawood

[bjtiger75]

I've got a block of zebrawood that I'm getting ready to cut up into scales. The block is big enough where I can cut a pair of scales off the end grain and still get 5" scales from the rest of the block. Will the end grain scales be susceptible to splitting and cracking or will they hold up? This wood is not stabilized.

Thanks
BJ

 

[hellgap]

It depends how dry the wood is already,you need to ask the wood pro s .

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Zebra wood, black and white ebony, and some similar woods are sometimes cut on the end grain to get a real unique pattern. The problem/risk is that they can split/break easily. Most who do it have the wood stabilized first, then cut the scales from the stabilized block. After sanding the back side dead flat, laminate it on a vulcanized fiber or phenolic spacer. Use care in clamping when gluing to the tang. Corby rivets are a good choice ( tighten them just snug). Solid block handles work a bit easier than scales, but end grain is end grain, and can be broken if dropped or roughly used.

 

[Patrickknives]

From just a wood working view, end grain bad. It is really hard to finish end grain due to pulling of the fibers and chipping at the unsupported edges. Then there is the potential cracking and strength issues. I would say no, you could try to finish the end grain and see if you can get a good finish then work on other issues.

 

[Jason Fry]

All that, plus it smells like poo when you cut it with a saw