Like? or Dislike? opinions needed

Burl Source

Burl Source

Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Messages
7,187
I got some wood from a small mill in Hawaii and there were a couple chunks of this in the batch.
Before I cut it up I wanted to see what all of you think.

I am leaning against cutting this into handle blocks.
If it doesn't get used as handle material I will use it for other woodworking projects.
It is nice wood, I just don't know if people would want it as knife handle material.
The wood is one of the varieties of Eucalyptus that originated in Australia and was planted extensively in Hawaii.
The furniture guys call this type of figure "bee's wing".

So.....what do use say; handle material or not?
001_zps053c22e1.jpg
 
I don't think it is best suited for handle scales but it might work on a hidden tang knife. Otherwise I think it might be best suited for another project which could make the most of the pattern.
 
Some people want a subtle handle it's fine , it doesn't always have to go WHAM !!
 
I think that would look awesome on a kitchen knife. I agree, the handle doesn't always have to be over the top.
 
What's the weight/density like Mark?

Is it expensive???

For whatever reason... I agree... it just strikes me as something that would look great on a kitchen knife. :cool:
 
Nick, good point about the weight/density. If is is dense enough, I'll buy some for kitchen knives unstabilized. I use more subtle woods for kitchen knives, such as paduak and walnut.
 
NickWheeler said:
What's the weight/density like Mark?
Is it expensive??? For whatever reason... I agree... it just strikes me as something that would look great on a kitchen knife. :cool:
Click to expand...

Not far behind Ironwood. At least the pieces I have. Going by feel it seems denser and harder than other types of Eucalyptus I have worked with. Not expensive.
I am thinking I should probably go ahead and cut it up.
 
Kind of reminds me of some wood you had a while back. Some sort of gum or eucalyptus I believe. It was kind of on the pinkish side as I recall. It had warm gentle tones anyway. I believe you had a hard time moving that stuff.
 
I can kind of take it or leave it. There's nothing "wrong" with it, but I don't see it jumping out and grabbing a client by the eyes, so to speak. Honestly it would depend a great deal on the cost... I certainly wouldn't pay as much for that as I would for a highly-figured piece. Frankly I wouldn't pay much more for it than I would for G10 or micarta, because I'd be afraid of sitting on it forever... it seems to me that when customers pay extra for stabilized wood, they want something that really "pops".
 
I think it'd be nice for a Wa-handle, as it could go with pretty much anything and look great. As much as I love the extravagant stuff, I find it can look a bit gaudy on certain Japanese style knives. That stuff seems to have just enough figure to make it interesting, but not enough that it would overshadow the simple beauty of the blade.

So long as it's not super expensive, I'd definitely try out a block or two.
 
This may be completely asinine, but what about cutting some up as blocks and slabbing some larger pieces out thin, so that a handle block with matching wood for a saya could be purchased? Or with any other wood, for that matter...

Like, 3/32-1/8" x 2.5-3" x 9-11"?
 
There have been other requests for matching handle block & saya material.
If it warms up enough so I can feel my fingers I will probably cut a couple sets.
I think I like this idea best.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top