Cypress wood for scales?

[heefageLA]

Can anyone give me some info on using Cypress for scales?
Im in the works of having a custom knife made and I live in Louisiana. (Cypress is everywhere!)
My dad builds furniture and things and uses Cypress a lot in his work.
I have a lot of it available to me and thought it would be neat to use some local Cypress as the scales on my knife.

I know its virtually waterproof because it grows in such wet conditions, but beyond that, im clueless.

If this should be moved somewhere else to get better responses, please chim in.

Thanks fellas

 

[TravisH]

I'd imagine they'd make scales just as nice as they do furniture. Why not just make a set and see?

 

[alex]

I have used it for several knife handles and it is working out great since I also have a ton of cypress available from the Big Cypress Swamp/ Everglades here in South Florida. All of my home made knives have been hidden tang style and I made sure the wood was very dry for several months. It also makes great walking sticks which are very resistant to rotting and very strong. My knife handles have all been made from walking stick cutoffs. It carves and sands nicely when dry but it doesn't have any figure and is very plain. Takes stains nicely.

I have usually peeled the bark off immediately after cutting (much easier than after it is dried) on the walking stick sized pieces and I just laid them down in a corner of my garage indoors to speed up the drying process. You will get some curvature as the wood dries but I just check on it a couple of times a week and rotate the stick putting some heavy items on them to dry the sticks as straight as possible. I have seen very little cracking as they dry but I usually just cut about an inch or more off each end to make sure there is no internal splitting. The pieces will lose a lot of weight as they dry out.

 

[jbmonkey]

Don't know but it makes a pretty good fence and doesn't rot from the wet easily.

If ya got plenty already give it a go. Worst that could happen is if it doesn't work well.....you learned from the experience and wasted some time.