Horn/bone/wood

[S.Shepherd]

How do you guys store your handle stock?
I've been running a dehumidifyer in the shop for the past 2 weeks because the humidity has been through the roof!!

what do you guys to to keep things from sucking up too much moisture?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You can make a drying cabinet with a light bulb as the heat source (very similar to a rod oven for welding),store them inside the house,or keep them in zip-lok bags.Getting handle material very dry is not a good idea (unless you are drying before stabilization).Natural materials should be at the same humidity as they will be worked on and used. Otherwise they will swell/shrink after the knife is made.A knife made in the winter in Arizona could have its handle split in a Virginia summer,due to the swelling.This is the biggest advantage for stabilized wood.Michigan can have big swings in humidity,so without stabilization you just have to go with the humidity of the day.
BTW,unless it is some sort of hygroscopic substance,it will not soak up "too much moisture".It will normalize to the surrounding humidity and the normal moisture content of that particular wood/bone.

 

[Gossman Knives]

I do the same thing Sean, dehumidifier all year long.
Scott

 

[S.Shepherd]

You can make a drying cabinet with a light bulb as the heat source (very similar to a rod oven for welding),store them inside the house,or keep them in zip-lok bags.Getting handle material very dry is not a good idea (unless you are drying before stabilization).Natural materials should be at the same humidity as they will be worked on and used. Otherwise they will swell/shrink after the knife is made.A knife made in the winter in Arizona could have its handle split in a Virginia summer,due to the swelling.This is the biggest advantage for stabilized wood.Michigan can have big swings in humidity,so without stabilization you just have to go with the humidity of the day.
BTW,unless it is some sort of hygroscopic substance,it will not soak up "too much moisture".It will normalize to the surrounding humidity and the normal moisture content of that particular wood/bone.

My concern was due to the last week we've had in weather--it's been upwards of 90-99% humidity. I've watched a piece of horn warp, and decided to not use it until the steam bath dies down.