India stag handles

[J Koch]

Does India Stag have a tendency to shrink? My new custom knife handle seems to be shrinking and I am able to feel the outer edges of the steel handle more and more. Am I just imagining things? Help!?!?

J.Koch

 

[Darrel Ralph]

Thats a common problem with stag and natural handle materials. They need to be aged. A light bulb in a small space will get them dried out. Then NO WATER when grinding.
NO HEAT either..

Some fellow bake um at just under boiling for
a couple hours before using also.. to get the water out



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Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
Take a look!!!

 

[mayor]

Very important to dry and keep wood and all natural handle materials dry. You will get a little shrinkage or pull back if you don't.

Mammoth ivory is the very worst and often comes loaded with water.

Couple of good ideas: An old refrigerator with a heating thermostat wired to a light bulb inside. Need an air inlet in the bottom and a stack on top. Can use about an 85 deg setting to dry over time. A bulb in a completely closed refrigerator with a good gasket will actually melt the plastic liner out of the box unless it is vented.

Another good idea if you have central heat and air cond. is to store the material in the chase behind the filter on the return air. A house with central hvac is very dry and the chase gives good circulation.

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Ben R. Ogletree, Jr.