hardwood handles + tropical weather

[redvenom]

Does anybody have any experience using knives with hardwood handles in the tropics? Where I live (SE Asia) it is hot with lots of rain throughout the year. Should I worry about the wood handles or scales cracking or warping?

So far, i've not dared to carry any of my knives with wood handles in case i get caught in a sudden rainstorm. Just how weather-proof is the wood stabilizing process? Or should I resign to buying all my knives with synthetic (G10, CF, Micarta) handles?

Thanks
Red

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"Praise not the day until evening has come;a sword until it is tried; ice until it has been crossed; beer until it has been drunk" - Viking proverb

[This message has been edited by redvenom (edited 10-12-2000).]

 

[Bart student]

I know of two ways to make a wood weather proof.

1. Take that yellow oil used to dillute paint
and put your knife in it overnight with grease-free wood (cleaned). Next day, get it out and remove exces oil and let dry the rest of the day, or longer, till it feels dry.
I do this usually three times, and it can rain for long times here in Belgium.

2. Suck all the air out and replace the spaces in the wood with epoxy. This takes a little more advanced material, but the results are much better. The wood becomes like wood-micarta.

Another thing is te choice of wood. Azobé will have no problems with water, as it often is used for ship hulls under water. It simply is too dense to let water penetrate. It is also the only wood that I know off that sinks in water. The are more woods like this one.

Pine wood cannot stand water. Basically, if you don't know which wood your dealing with, try to get an idea of how dense or hard the wood is. This usaully is a good indicator of how waterproof the wood is.

I suggest coating any wood handle with ballistol gun oil, that stuff leaves a waterrepellant layer on and in the wood.
WD-40 does too...

greetz, Bart.


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"If the world wouldn't SUCK, we'd all fall off !"

member of the BKS
http://www.expage.com/belgianknives

 

[Roger Blake]

The problem with woods, other than those stabilzed and sold as such, is that wood moves by adjusting to the humidity in air. Ordinary wood finishes such as varnish, polyurethanes. and laquers so the process but do not prevent it. The movement is across the grain rather than along the grain. The better designs for wood allow for some movement.

If your already in a humid climate then go ahead and use your knife its already come to equilibrium. Rain should not hurt it if it can readily dry out.

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Roger Blake