Irish bog oak

Cap’n Smudge

Cap’n Smudge

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Has anyone ever used Irish bog oak for knife scales? Should or can it be stabilized? How about spalted woods? Can they be stabilized?
 
Irish bog oak is so old that it shouldn't shrink or warp . Spalted [rotted] wood must be stabilized as the rotted part is soft and weak.
 
I once was in contact with a guy in Scotland that makes some very nice sgian dubhs. One of the handle materials he was using was bog oak from Culloden, Scotland. He had used it quite a bit and he always stabilized it. He said in its raw state there was a lot of soft spots in the wood. I would imagine that this bog oak and you're Irish bog oak would be pretty similar as they are really only a few miles apart. I was gonna order some from him and never did get around to it so I haven't used it personally. He still sells it. He doesn't mention it being stabilized but in some emails I had with him he told me he always did stabilize prior to using it. Here's a link http://www.lochnessorigins.com/acatalog/Sgian_Dubh_Components.html I have purchased from him before (made up some sgian brews) and the transaction went very well. Wouldn't hesitate to order again.
 
If I remember correctly this oak had been carbon dated at 2500 yrs old. So one would think that shrinkage wouldn't be a problem. The stabilization was for making the soft spots usable.
 
Age does not make a material stable. Bog oak is impregnated with minerals from being buried in peat, but to a varying degree, and absorbtion rates and moisture content still affect how stable it is under changing climactic conditions.
 
I've worked with it once. It was nice and hard.
It has been used for knive handles for hundereds of years before stabilising was invented.
Beautifull stuff
 
Clemson very nice knife! So you found the same source I did. Odog what is your source for the Irish bog oak? Always looking for new and interesting materials.
 
I've seen a couple of threads where the maker was complaining the bog oak did shrink, it withdrew lenghtwise leaving a gap between the guard and handle, and another gap at the other end. I was going to get some, but decided there's so much beautiful wood out there that won't warp, well, I just didn't.



Dave
 
Yep the more I thinnk on it the more I think Justin above is correct. What would be important is how long the bog oak has been out of the bog. Not how old the wood is. which would also explain the separation Daave is talking about. So I would think that getting it stabilized would be the way to go.
 
eBay- for my first block. It Was from Tyne and Wear. Nice little block. I am doing some knives for my family(we are Irish) so I wanted to use Irish woods. The bog woods are expensive. I checked out your source it is very nice. Although it is Scottish. I will probably use your source for future projects. Also found a kid in northern Ireland that has a bunch of Irish woods. I got some of these but still have to stabilize them. The yew looks great. Everything he has listed on eBay is pen blank size. I contacted him directly. He is very easy to deal with. Seller:gortwood9188.
 
Will the pen size be big enough for you? I make some small knives but .75x.75 wasn't big enough. Show some pics when ya get the wood.
 
I contacted him directly and he cut me blanks to the size I specified. 14cm x 4.5cm x 2.5cm.
 
Dang ya need to talk in inches not cms. Ya'd think I didn't sit my highers in Scotland.
 
I bought a nice piece of bog oak on Ebay a while ago.
I contacted the seller and told him what I wanted it for and that I didn't mind some some extra wood.
We agreed that I'd pay an X-amount and he would send me the piece and fill the box with some small pieces.
It ended up being a nice parcel.
(what many people consider to be cut off bits, can be good stuff for spacers, small/medium scales or material for other projects)
 
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