Fractal burning

[Whiskey_Jim]

Having some fun with lighting

 

[Agent_H]

That looks like fun.

Do tell. Good photos of your shop so far

 

[Square_peg]

That's pretty cool! I want video!

 

[Agent_H]

Talent, ingenuity, and honesty. I respect that. I bet that is the case for most

 

[Whiskey_Jim]

Talent, ingenuity, and honesty. I respect that. I bet that is the case for most

I only have one of those things.

 

[Steve Tall]

"Woodburning with electricity" looks pretty wild.

 

[Agent_H]

That is one more than me with fractal burning

 

[T. Erdelyi]

There's a lot on the internet about this process. It can make for some dramatic patterns and some pretty tame ones. There's a lot of variables but when everything is right the results are stunning.

How to Burn Fractal Lichtenberg Figures onto Wood Using High Voltage Electricity

This guy cracked me up, his accent made me laugh but his demo gave you an idea of what it looks like. Just look up Lichtenberg Fractal Wood Burning

this is a quick video with a dramatic result.

 

[Kevin Houtzager]

X

 

[Hacked]

Really neat, and I'm assuming that it has no notable affect on the strength of the handle. Functional art so to speak.

 

[madcap_magician]

Very cool, but I don't think I'll be playing with high-amperage current anytime soon!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

That is cool and easy enough to build! Haven't heard of it until now.

I am wondering 1 thing though: what does it do the structural integrity of the wood? In essence you are removing wood by surface burning with electricity. Burning makes it harder but more brittle. Taking away some wood leaves low spots in the wood (a fault in the GB hunters axe), and as far as i can tell sharp edges. That means high stress risers in the handles, which in itself is more likely way to break handles.

It is cool as art though, but I'm not to certain about using it in structural pieces like handles?

It appears to happen near the surface because the arcing is across the the baking soda/water mix that's absorbed in the veins closer to the surface. The longer you soak and the more the wood absorbs the deeper the reaction goes.

It would also give it the same kinda feel as stag for the looks of it. If you were worried about sharp edges and high stress risers in the wood i'd seriously reconsider the handle choice. Maybe something more akin to G-10 or Pachmayr, something more durable.

I feel if you're using a knife as a pocket knife and not subjecting it to the rigors of lets say a ... contractor building homes would be fine for edc and typical knife use. I honestly believe it would only impact the thinnest of veneers, you could always stabilize and use a clear filler/bonding agent.

Of course like everything else, it's all a matter of preference and taste, we all know that most people will differ even if ever so slightly in those areas .

 

[Kevin Houtzager]

X

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Kevin, don't get me wrong sir, I'm not arguin' with you, bein' machinist and a mechanic I understand what you mean and have seen it myself. I also understand there's a big difference between natural occurring grooves and canyons vs forced/traumatic occurring ones. I also have never tried this and would equally be interested in someone's opinion who has done this or the even the opportunity to try some myself.

I know wood as a medium by itself can be very sketchy, cracks propagate from knots and voids that are invisible or just under the surface and don't become apparent till you sand down to them or apply some form of stress. I think as a scale for a folder it would be much less of an issue than for a fixed blade.

 

[300Six]

That's wild! Not something I'd ever be tempted to do to users but as decorative pieces these take the cake.