Oak and Burl maple panels

[JM2]

I’m thinking on using some burl maple I have to re-panel a folding knife. So my question is, do I need to stabilize it?

And, generally, knives that have wood panels are just polished down to a luster? IE, no finish? Wax? Does that apply to both maple and oak?

 

[FredyCro]

If you refer to scales, stabilized wood is (as the word says it) more stabile than normal wood. It's harder, it doesn't move and swell as non stabilized wood does.

The general rule is that rosewoods and really hard and oily woods don't need stabilization, but everythings else is better with off.

I used both oak and maple burl and stabilized both of them. Both of them would also work without stabilization IMHO if you have solid pieces, but it might move on you in the process or later on. Burls need a treatment with CA glue to finish them off and fill the woids. Oak has big pores that need filling. Both woods could be finished with multilpy coats of daenish oil, medium to high grit sand paper and machine or hand polish.