hickory for handles?

R

rjudoka

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Oct 11, 2003
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I was curious if anyone has used hickory and more importantly, if there is any reason not to. It would seem to be strong enough since its used for axes, mauls and what have you. I know its not the prettiest wood but I'm just looking for a handle for a beater knife for work.
thanks, Rick
 
The only thing I can think of "against" it is if it blackens in contact with steel, due to tanic acid. You could test a piece, by putting some moist metal over it to see if it reacts. Similar woods like red oak can be stained ebony black in colour with a little iron in water to create a rust solution. Other than maybe that, it isn't a bad wood, and can have some interesting contrast.
 
Sure, you can use it. The thing is, it's so plain, and figured tropical, and other hardwoods are so inexpensive that there is no reason to. :)
 
Not all of it is plain, here's a Frontier Dirk by Crex with a hickory grip:
dirk-1.jpg


My wife's hoe has a handle with a similar pattern but....:D

See my other post in your other thread about hickory re: how tough it is
 
Proto- here's Crex's method. CT isn't really a stain - it brings out the high lights in the wood via a chemical reaction.

"hickory takes a good set with chromic trioxide.
I then soaked it in Minwax hardner for a couple of days (hickory will really suck it up) and finished with several worked in coatings of tung oil and burnished with brown paper sack."
 
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