Kauri Wood

WyoNonSmith

WyoNonSmith

Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Messages
392
I recently aquired some new zealand Kauri wood...beautiful stuff.

In it's current form, it is unstabilized. I might consider getting that done.

Has anyone used this for handle material on a custom knife? What were your experiences? I have only seen a few knives that have this as a handle material, though I think it could be great. Any insights would be helpful.

In a month or so, a MS friend of mine is going to help me forge a few knives so I'm trying to get ready. IMHO, I think the rich grain of the wood would look well with a damascus blade and or fittings. I am open to ideas.
 
Hello from New Zealand.

New Zealand Kauri is classed as a soft wood. It is easy to work and finishes up real nice (beautiful golden grain with amazing depth when polished). Some of the old recycled stuff can be quite hard. You could try getting it stabilised, but if you can mark it with your thumb nail I wouldn't put it on a the handle of a knife I was planning to use a lot.

Cheers Kevin
 
I've done a couple of knives with Kauri but find it is quite "shifty". Swamp Kauri is better (30000 years in a swamp stops the shifting), but lots of NZ woods are better. If it is for a using knife I'd get it stabilised.
 
You might want to ask over in the Shop Talk forum. I know a couple of guys have used the ancient Kauri, but it was sent for stabilization first.

-d
 
Mine is the swamp stuff and is dated back to 50,000 years. It is hard as hell. Thanks for the feedback, I'll pose the question over in shop talk.
 
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