Grain direction question

[CDH]

Every once in a while I get a block of wood that just leaves me questioning which direction to cut the slabs. I have a slab of mesquite that resulted in 6 blocks like this. I am debating which direction to cut the slabs for best showing on knife handles...show the A or the B side? I am sort of leaning towards one direction, but it's close enough I thought I'd get a second opinion...

 

[longgunner97]

That is a tough call there. I'm leaning towrds side B because of the direction of the grain, there would be less chances of the wood splitting or cracking on you. But then agian both sides have some really nice grain pattern to them.In knifes I make for my self I like to use the knots and burly parts to add some character them.But then again most of what I have done so far is rustic looking knives and rehandleing old carbon steel kitchen knives.

 

[Burl Source]

Using the A side as the faces will have your scales closer to 1/4 sawn.

 

[tattooedfreak]

hehe I say B but you could always to a hidden tang and show both...

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I prefer the steady undulations of A best, over the more random side B. If it was me I'd wait until I had a knife in mind and then use it for the knife rather than try and make the knife fit the specific side, if that makes any sense.

 

[PB Wilson]

Using the A side as the faces will have your scales closer to 1/4 sawn.

I agree with this statement. They'll act more predictably if the grain is more vertical.

Of course we're talking about Mesquite here, one of the most stable woods out there so you can go with your gut if you choose.

 

[CDH]

Thanks guys!

Actually I have a block drilled for a hidden tang blade to see how it works out. Since I started with a slab that sawed into 6 sticks of 1-1/4" by 1-1/2" by 12-18", I have enough to play with both ways. I just had to put the resawing on hold...so it'll be another 6 months before I complete that little project.