Knife Makers - Stabilized Burl Testing Results

[Burl Source]

I couldn't help myself. I had to post a bigger photo.
This knife looks great. I like the way you kept the buckeye a lighter color. It goes great with the rest of the knife. All of you guys did wonders with the blocks you were sent.

 

[Burl Source]

I wanted to say thank you to all the makers who took part in this project. You guys made some amazing knives. The input you guys gave has helped me to make a number of improvements in the wood stabilizing process. Some of the improvements are heavier, harder blocks. As well as better filling of internal voids, bark pockets and checks.

Thanks again, Mark

There are still some more photos coming in the near future. Feel free to post your comments on the knives these guys have made.

 

[Burl Source]

Ed Caffrey just emailed these photos to me. Wow, that's a great looking knife.

 

[Burl Source]

I had almost forgotten about this thread until a couple makers who signed up for this got in touch and asked where to post their knives.
Watch for more photos coming real soon.
Thanks again everybody who took part in this. You guys were a big help getting the stabilizing process worked out to it's best.

 

[Josh Dabney]

I want to make a public appology to Mark for taking sooo long to actually finish my knife using the California Buckeye "TEST" Burl .

I did keep in touch with Mark an assure him that I would finish and post my knife eventually, and too his credit he was very understanding and just said "no problem, take your time"

Well months later here it is. I tried my best to do this fine piece of burl justice.

-8" Chef
-1080 carbon steel, stock removed, and edge quenched
-Full flat ground to a .020 edge then convex ground from 1/2" up from the edge to .005
-Distal taper (Should have used thinner stock or more taper)
-Etched in ferric and polished with chrome polish.
-Hybrid polish above quench line with 0000 steel wool and Balistol.
-416 guard and black fiber spacer
-Flower carved stabilized Buckeye Burl finished with 5 coats of Tru-Oil and hand buffed with felt.
-2 coats of Tru-Oil on the inside parts of the carving left un-buffed for a matte finish. I was shooting for some contrast between the highly polished handle and the detail of the carving

Sorry again for taking so long ! I hope it was worth the wait ! Josh

 

[Burl Source]

Great Looking knife Josh!

 

[Dan Pierson]

At last, my test knife is finally done. The main handle is a piece of Mark's
excellent maple burl. I've got enough left for a small knife and a couple
of generous spacers.

The spacer on this is some American Chestnut Burl that I had stabilized by
K&G a few years ago. The worked very well together even though the two
processes result in very different looking wood shavings. Mark's looks more
like wood; K&G's more like plastic.

The blade is the first blade forged in my shop that had a satisfactory shape.
The knife is going to be mine .