Does Amboyna burl need to be stabilized?

[bwitty]

just wondering if I get some scales of Amboyna Burl for my first knife...do they need to be stabilized?

 

[Russ Andrews]

Strongly recommended...

Amboyna is a bit on the soft side.
Stabilizing will harden the wood, bring out
the color, as well as protecting it.

Breathing protection is especially important
when grinding stabilized material.

Best of luck.......

Russ

 

[tmickley]

I use a lot of Amboyna because I really like it. Amboyna need to be stabilized. It will crack if you don't.
Buy your scales (or block) stabilized already. If you buy (typical) 1/4" scales and then stabilize, they won't come back straight. They will come back slightly warped from the process.

 

[John Andrews]

You guys are right on the money. I bought my last, already stabilized, from The Lumberlady, and they were great. By the way, she does her own stabilizing inhouse.