Hawaiian koa burl opinions

[knife chop]

Hello, I wanted to know your opinions on this handle material in terms for durability. Thanks!

 

[billf]

As a major Koa lover, I would say....it depends. Specifically, burls are unusual, but also can have voids.

I think stabilization is the way to go for sure

Bill

 

[Matthew Gregory]

The only thing I could possibly add is that maybe, perhaps, in an alternate universe, there's someone that owns more koa than billf.


But I doubt it.


Bill's input is the final input, in my book!

 

[Fred.Rowe]

look for the blocks with straight and parallel lines running across it, if your looking for stability. These pieces rarely have voids and are very stable. I've found the pieces with the twisting darker lines are much less desirable, they can look good but they are more likely to have voids. I have 15 blocks of the stuff. I buy the nice ones when they come up for sale and put them on the shelf. They'll get used some day.

Another thing, Curly Koa is a wood that takes well to burnishing. It will make the grain holographic if its burnished hard with an antler tip or brass rod.

Fred