Problems with Shadetree burlap swelling?

[Fiddleback]

CD Mayhem, thats totaly fixable. Send your baby in and I'll touch it up.

 

[M4Super90]

I've never experienced this on any new Fiddleback w/ Shadetree I've purchased, although I do have a Shadetree Gaucho that I'm at least the second owner that has a proud bullseye. Just enough to hang your fingernail on, but it doesn't bother me. I have several w/ wood that have the opposite problem, but they've been to the Philippines, been underwater, survived a typhoon, and then back to the desert. I figured they would shrink back up with the low humidity, but they haven't yet. However, as Andy states its expected with wood. I'm actually surprised more of my knives didn't do it when I moved to Arizona. I have a bone handled knife that is absolutely horrible.

 

[VANCE]

I've never experienced this on any new Fiddleback w/ Shadetree I've purchased, although I do have a Shadetree Gaucho that I'm at least the second owner that has a proud bullseye. Just enough to hang your fingernail on, but it doesn't bother me. I have several w/ wood that have the opposite problem, but they've been to the Philippines, been underwater, survived a typhoon, and then back to the desert. I figured they would shrink back up with the low humidity, but they haven't yet. However, as Andy states its expected with wood. I'm actually surprised more of my knives didn't do it when I moved to Arizona. I have a bone handled knife that is absolutely horrible.

Holy smokes Phillip
That's the first time I have seen that

 

[FeralGentleman]

I've never experienced this on any new Fiddleback w/ Shadetree I've purchased, although I do have a Shadetree Gaucho that I'm at least the second owner that has a proud bullseye. Just enough to hang your fingernail on, but it doesn't bother me. I have several w/ wood that have the opposite problem, but they've been to the Philippines, been underwater, survived a typhoon, and then back to the desert. I figured they would shrink back up with the low humidity, but they haven't yet. However, as Andy states its expected with wood. I'm actually surprised more of my knives didn't do it when I moved to Arizona. I have a bone handled knife that is absolutely horrible.

Is that the Tangerine Gaucho? I do hope it is not in comparison (but in reverse) to that black palm handle that expanded. I would have noticed something that extreme.

I just sat down and felt through 15 or so Fiddleback knives, some carried some unused, along with a new Runt that came this past Friday. The majority of these being burlaps, natural or OD canvas. Regarding the pins, each knife had a smooth transition to the handle material. Out of the 15'ish knives, I could catch a nail on all, including the new Runt, somewhere along the lanyard tubes except for a buckeye burl BLJ which had a smooth transition all around. One, maybe two, knives you could sight down and see a define tube sitting above the handle material, all the others you would have to do by feel but you could snag a nail for sure if you tried.

Meshing a seamless transition from two vastly different material every time on a handmade object is somewhat of a difficult proposition. You'd have to do some real testing on the materials to determine if there is actual movement characteristic to the material or just how that one specific end product example came finished. Maybe that has been done already on these synthetic materials? I have no idea, I don't nerd out on this stuff. Snagged nails aside, perfection is a figment of imagination... but Andy and crew get pretty damn close.

 

[Fiddleback]

Hi all and Andy in particular,

Looking for some info to see if anyone can shed some light on this...

I have a knife I am testing from another maker right now using Shadetree burlap for the handle scales. He has just started experimenting with the material and one thing I noticed is that his handle pins are the slightest bit proud of the material. Not enough to see with the nekkid eye, but just enough to catch a fingernail.

I spoke with the maker and he said he has noticed that pretty much all the knives he has finished using the burlap micarta have the pins slightly proud after finishing. He says...

"I do not know yet if the scales are shrinking due to the winter weather or if it some other reason. I am hesitant to sand them flush again because I do not want the pins to be recessed in the spring/summer if the micarta swells back up when the seasons change again. I do have a couple "test" knives here that I am monitoring for those exact changes."

Can anyone help out? Has anyone noticed any swellings/shrinking with the seasons? Andy, have you noticed any differences in working with burlap vs more pedestrian micartas?

I am very interested to see the input to this thread.

Thanks for posting/asking.

Todd

It is common in other scale materials. Even epoxy can shift with temperature and humidity extremes, depending on the product. I have found it to be self-limiting for the most part. Let us know how it progresses.

One of my favorite aspects of the Shadetree burlaps is the exposure of fibers on the surface over time. Honesty, I handle mine all the time trying to encourage the process. I never even considered moisture aiding in the process until this thread. I reckon it makes sense. I've used my shadetree Kephart in the kitchen many times and the scales have considerably more texture now than when I purchased it. I much prefer the scales with this texture as opposed to freshly finished.

On the other hand I have several Fiddlebacks with pins proud enough to grab a fingernail. They were this way from day one and have not gotten noticeably better or worse. As far as I can tell they have not changed. None of these were purchased straight from the Forge, but they were all like new. During use these proud pins are not noticeable...and I have no qualms with them. In fact I just tell myself they provide added "texture" and if I didn't own Fiddleback's with flush pins I probably never would have noticed... I do have several with proud lanyard tubes...unlike the proud pins the proud tubes are noticeable both in-use and visually. They do not cause discomfort, but I definitely notice the lanyard tube more so than the proud-ish pins. With that said I am still incredibly pleased with my Fiddlebacks and plan on using them for as long as I am able. They are the nicest knives I have ever carried!

I've never experienced this on any new Fiddleback w/ Shadetree I've purchased, although I do have a Shadetree Gaucho that I'm at least the second owner that has a proud bullseye. Just enough to hang your fingernail on, but it doesn't bother me. I have several w/ wood that have the opposite problem, but they've been to the Philippines, been underwater, survived a typhoon, and then back to the desert. I figured they would shrink back up with the low humidity, but they haven't yet. However, as Andy states its expected with wood. I'm actually surprised more of my knives didn't do it when I moved to Arizona. I have a bone handled knife that is absolutely horrible.

You should send that back to let us work on it. Its not a hard fix. We can have it looking great and back to you in a jiffy.

 

[M4Super90]

Is that the Tangerine Gaucho? I do hope it is not in comparison (but in reverse) to that black palm handle that expanded. I would have noticed something that extreme.

It is, and its not even close in comparison. It's my only example and also one I did not handle straight from Fiddleback. Unfortunately, I can't comment if it was always that way or happened in AZ. Either way, I am not unhappy with it. I love that knife. The 3/32 is fantastic. I only wish it was A2 or stainless.

You should send that back to let us work on it. Its not a hard fix. We can have it looking great and back to you in a jiffy.

I talked with Ken about it, but we both agreed to let the desert air do its work so it would not need it twice. At some point, I'll send them in. It is interesting that the only ones I've had do that are all made with dyed palm.

 

[rangerpaul1961]

Have a Valkyrie companion with shadetree multi colored burlap w black bolsters..carried EVERY day cor 2 years..all weather..rained on used every day cutting lumber straps...cutting in door stops ect. No change in handles or pins even at bolster line.

 

[schmittie]

For what it's worth, based on Andy's personal recommendation, I've purposely bought micarta (Shadetree) for my hunting knives because I have a bad habit. After field dressing a deer or two, I've been known to clean my knives off in the nearest creek. I've used a Hunter, Bushfinger, Recluse and Patch for this. Not had one bit of issues yet. The guys behind Shadetree are legendary!