Help me pick the right wood for this build.

Joseph Bandeko

Joseph Bandeko

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 9, 2021
Messages
1,363
Hello,
I’ve got a chef’s knife build coming up, and for like the first time ever, I just can’t decide what wood I want to use for the handle 🤷🏻‍♂️
It’s gonna be a 7” to 8” knife with a mono steel blade (hand rubbed finish), heat blackened zirc guard and maybe a timascus spacer.
I don’t think it‘s necessary to spend much over $100 for enough to do the one handle, but I do want something really nice.
I’ve thought about using things like African Blackwood or desert ironwood, but want to use something nicer and more unique.
I am thinking about using Birdseye Mun Ebony (and I think it would look great), but I’m a little concerned about it checking.

So what are y’all thoughts/suggestions on what would look good with the mono steel blade and black guard?
 
Mopane (also called mopani) is really nice. It is very hard and takes a lovely polish.

Another choice is a stabilized black dyed highly figured wood. I have plenty of K&G stabilized black dyed curly maple and would be glad to send you a nice block or two for this project.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Mopane (also called mopani) is really nice. It is very hard and takes a lovely polish.

Another choice is a stabilized black dyed highly figured wood. I have plenty of K&G stabilized black dyed curly maple and would be glad to send you a nice block or two for this project.
Click to expand...
Stacy, can you post a photo of that stabilized black dyed curly maple? I've never heard of that before but it sure does sound interesting.
 
Silly comment...... but does texture play into your decision?

I love knives with wooden handles. So far I've only made one with ebony. It's beautiful and hard, but it's like glass smooth.
I'm not sure I'd want a kitchen knife to feel that way?

Disclaimer.... I haven't gotten this knife wet yet.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Another choice is a stabilized black dyed highly figured wood. I have plenty of K&G stabilized black dyed curly maple and would be glad to send you a nice block or two for this project.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the offer, though I think for this particular build a natural wood will be best (stabilized is fine, just not dyed)

Hengelo_77 said:
Well figured ziricote goes well with a black guard
Click to expand...
I might end up doing that.

I would love to use some of the Birdseye Mun Ebony from Greenberg, but I’m just concerned about checking, do you think even if cared for properly there would be a risk of it checking?
This piece in particular is just making me drool:
1670434711891.jpeg
I’d use some stabilized Black and White Ebony from him, but there’s nothing on his website right now that is catching my eye.
Do y’all know of somewhere else I could get some stabilized Black and White Ebony?

Crag the Brewer said:
Silly comment...... but does texture play into your decision?

I love knives with wooden handles. So far I've only made one with ebony. It's beautiful and hard, but it's like glass smooth.
I'm not sure I'd want a kitchen knife to feel that way?

Disclaimer.... I haven't gotten this knife wet yet.
Click to expand...
I’d like to have a higher shine/gloss finish. What kind of Ebony did you use? And have you had any problems with it?
 
Bunker Hill Blades said:
Thank you for the offer, though I think for this particular build a natural wood will be best (stabilized is fine, just not dyed)


I might end up doing that.

I would love to use some of the Birdseye Mun Ebony from Greenberg, but I’m just concerned about checking, do you think even if cared for properly there would be a risk of it checking?
This piece in particular is just making me drool:
View attachment 2009971
I’d use some stabilized Black and White Ebony from him, but there’s nothing on his website right now that is catching my eye.
Do y’all know of somewhere else I could get some stabilized Black and White Ebony?


I’d like to have a higher shine/gloss finish. What kind of Ebony did you use? And have you had any problems with it?
Click to expand...
Arizona Desert Ironwood has some stabilized Black and White Ebony. I've used it once and liked the way it looks.
 
Bunker Hill Blades said:
Thank you for the offer, though I think for this particular build a natural wood will be best (stabilized is fine, just not dyed)


I might end up doing that.

I would love to use some of the Birdseye Mun Ebony from Greenberg, but I’m just concerned about checking, do you think even if cared for properly there would be a risk of it checking?
This piece in particular is just making me drool:
View attachment 2009971
I’d use some stabilized Black and White Ebony from him, but there’s nothing on his website right now that is catching my eye.
Do y’all know of somewhere else I could get some stabilized Black and White Ebony?


I’d like to have a higher shine/gloss finish. What kind of Ebony did you use? And have you had any problems with it?
Click to expand...
I only own one knife with stabilized scales, I bought from a maker here. Idk who did the stabilizing? I don't like the weight, nor the feel. It's texture feels fake. And that knife is maple...... Doesn't need it.


Idk what kind I bought, it was just labeled as Ebony. I got it from a woodworkers store. Not sure how responsible or ethical they really are? Or where it comes from.

I picked the blackest board.
I didn't know it was Ok to have any discoloring in it?
I guess I can feel better now. Mine had a few spots, I used it for trying out with a personal knife...ha.

I make rough use knives, yet I still like using wood for handles.
I personally wouldn't stabilize ebony, not sure if you even can? It's so dense.


My ebony is So dense and glassy. Smooth. I really didn't even sand or finish it up. Barely sanded at all...... Again, I make rougher, user knives. Not fancy show pieces. ....... Yet, this wood looks great. I'm definitely going to be using it more


 
just a note ironwood will turn to brown/black with use and in the kitchen it will for sure. if your ok with that then go for it cause its going to hold up. one holiday extra fam helped clean up and the ironwood utility ended up in the dishwasher. other then getting dark the handle held up just fine. i like to stick to nice stabilized woods due to less color shift
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I only own one knife with stabilized scales, I bought from a maker here. Idk who did the stabilizing? I don't like the weight, nor the feel. It's texture feels fake. And that knife is maple...... Doesn't need it.


Idk what kind I bought, it was just labeled as Ebony. I got it from a woodworkers store. Not sure how responsible or ethical they really are? Or where it comes from.

I picked the blackest board.
I didn't know it was Ok to have any discoloring in it?
I guess I can feel better now. Mine had a few spots, I used it for trying out with a personal knife...ha.

I make rough use knives, yet I still like using wood for handles.
I personally wouldn't stabilize ebony, not sure if you even can? It's so dense.


My ebony is So dense and glassy. Smooth. I really didn't even sand or finish it up. Barely sanded at all...... Again, I make rougher, user knives. Not fancy show pieces. ....... Yet, this wood looks great. I'm definitely going to be using it more


Click to expand...
It’s probably Macassar Ebony or maybe Gaboon Ebony

B&W (Black and White Ebony) is much softer and less dense, So it can and should be stabilized. And I think I’m gonna go with stabilized B&W.
I’ll post photos of whatever I get.
 
Here is a piece of K&G black dyed maple sanded to 80 grit and wiped with water for picture.

20221209_132523.jpg
 
I saw some really interesting woods on a site someone recommended to me on another forum. I dont think i can post the site, but ill look at what the woods i saw that cut my eye were, and edit this with the type.

Edit : Tasmanian blackwood burl, york gum burl, buckeye burl, and cheesewood burl.

They all looked amazing in their own ways.
 
beeinak said:
How about purple heart? It is a beautiful and under appreciated wood.
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Honestly there really isn’t anything I like about Purple Heart.
But hey, that‘s just me. don’t let me stop you from using it if it’s something you like!
 
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