Experiences with Madrona?

M

mjn

Joined
Nov 2, 2002
Messages
114
I had some Madrona branch wood just about the right size for a Scandi style knife handle sitting in my garage. I've learned the hard way not to rush drying hardwood I've collected. When I finally cut and debarked it, it had turned a grayish/purplish color throughout the wood, and I just couldn't bring myself to use it.

Have other people seen this happen with madrona? Did I do something wrong?
 
No that is the color of it and that grays, purples, browns and reds are what you want. Pretty wood if you can get it to dry with out checking.
 
Madrone is on average an unstable wood cut tangent. Using wood from any tree branch adds to the instability as branch wood is reaction wood under stress.
 
I made scales for a chef knife from Madrone cut from a stack of firewood that had been sitting in a woodshed for about 15 years. It was for a cousin of mine and the tree grew in the front yard outside her bedroom window while she was growing up. I had to cut a ton of scales before I ended up with ones with any character at all. The two I settled on had a hint of tiger eye look when finished. I noticed no coloring like you mentioned above. She uses the knife on a daily basis and has been for about 5 years (still no coloring). Must be something in the water down there. The tree was from Federal Way, Washington.
 
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