I live in Ithaca NY. What are some good local woods to use for handles?

[chemistguy]

Yes, I know I'd have to cut it, coat the ends of the logs with something, and let it sit for at least a year. Hardwoods that grow here are maple, moosewood maple (dat sexy bark), oak, beech, ironwood, white birch, black birch, yellow birch, cherry, crab apple, apple, walnut, sumac, willow, witch hazel, hickory, black walnut, aspen, and even a bit of osage orange (I've seen a couple of trees around in the fall when I can id them by the fruit, but I probably wouldn't be able to cut them)

yeah there are others too I didn't mention

could also use bone? how do you work with bone??

 

[sunshadow]

Hey
Where in Ithaca, I have a shop out in Lansing. Local woods look for maple or birch burls, walnut tends to crack. Make sure your wood is properly seasoned. I buy rough maple boards from NV Lumber out on Peruville road by where it intersects with Sheldon Road. I go to Rochester a couple times a year to buy cocobolo, wenge, and purple heart from Pittsford Lumber

-Page

 

[mete]

It may take longer than you think to properly dry the woods [one year ++]. Hard maple , birch, hickory are the better ones .Osage orange is obviously an import. You might try to find a hardwood drier but then it should be put into a kiln with the same thickness wood and similar drying times.

 

[chemistguy]

I live up on the top of West Hill (up rt 79 towards Enfield).

I swear I've seen Osage Orange trees around here. Yes, in New York. Not native, but they do grow just fine. If I can ever find a nice one somewhere where I can cut it, I will make some bow staves.

Will the last employed worker please turn out the lights?

Well I guess all across America, the lights stay on all night.... screw this economy

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

Cherry Burl .

 

[chemistguy]

wait, burls are those big gross looking bulges you often see on willow trees? I call them nutsack trees... lol

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The burls used for knife handles are usually very large root burls ( some are ten feet in diameter), or large tumor burls near the base. Branch burls and higher up surface burls rarely work.