Knif handles

[jersey127]

Hey, I'm new to knife making and I wanted to know something. I have 6 knife designs that I wanted to make, and I wanted to buy all the stuff at once.

The stuff I wanted to make is all Ebony and brass, so should I buy Individual scales, or just a block of ebony?

If I bought a block how hard would it be to cut it into pieces for a handle on a full tang knife?

Please help!
thank you..

DA

 

[B . Buxton]

Well, here's my take on your question. If you buy a block you can slice it up with a table saw, just be sure to wear a respirator and be ready to get dirty, because Black ebony is dirty to cut and sand.
But, if it were me, unless I knew for sure the block was well aged I would buy handle material already cut and seasoned from a well known supplier. Its a pain to put several hours in a knife just to have everything shrink and move after a few weeks just because the wood hadn't dried, like ebony, long enough to stabilize itself.

Just my throughts on the matter,

Good luck

Bill

 

[etp777]

I'd agree with Bill, but that being said, I think if you order/purchase it from a reputable wood dealer, you should be alright. place I buy from caters to custom woodworkers, and has them well dried/kilned/whatever. THeir customers can't afford having their wood shrink, and they would lose customers if that happened.