Question about GEC walnut scales

Bladenoobie1

Bladenoobie1

Joined
Jul 20, 2012
Messages
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I had just received a gorgeous TC barlow in walnut and I like everything about it except one small issue. One of the walnut scales has a noticeably clear line with a transition from dark to light. I read that GEC stabilized their walnut with acrylic so by chance is it possible that the walnut scale on my TC barlow wasn't fully impregnated with acrylic or perhaps oil inside the scale prevented the acrylic from going in evenly? Is there anything I can do to even out the transition? Its a minor thing, but a little annoying. The other scale is perfect and has nice rich coloration.
IMG_2414_zps0b96097d.jpg


Thanks,
BN
 
These are a couple of pictures of my single sheepsfoot walnut, which has a distinct line similar in origin to yours. I am fairly certain it is natural in the wood, as you can see the acrylic shining in certain light showing this slab was definitely fully submerged.
The other side is a full colour, and has no lines.

I really like the variation in your walnut, I think it gives it a lot of character. :thumbup:


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Maybe so. Anyhow I'll get some nicer pictures later along with some shots of a bone boker barlow that I'm supposed to receive today.
 
That's a totally natural feature in practically every species of wood. You know the rings in a tree? How you'll have a light band, then a dark band, and so on? Well what you have there is the progression between a light and dark band. There's virtually no way that can be avoided, in fact most folks who appreciate the beauty of wood seek it out for its character. Those are fantastic covers (not scales, scales are the liners, I REALLY wish people would stop calling the covers "scales" ;)), if that knife was mine I'd be one happy camper.

Eric
 
ea42 said:
That's a totally natural feature in practically every species of wood. You know the rings in a tree? How you'll have a light band, then a dark band, and so on? Well what you have there is the progression between a light and dark band. There's virtually no way that can be avoided, in fact most folks who appreciate the beauty of wood seek it out for its character. Those are fantastic covers (not scales, scales are the liners, I REALLY wish people would stop calling the covers "scales" ;)), if that knife was mine I'd be one happy camper.

Eric
Click to expand...

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
ea42 said:
That's a totally natural feature in practically every species of wood. You know the rings in a tree? How you'll have a light band, then a dark band, and so on? Well what you have there is the progression between a light and dark band. There's virtually no way that can be avoided, in fact most folks who appreciate the beauty of wood seek it out for its character. Those are fantastic covers (not scales, scales are the liners, I REALLY wish people would stop calling the covers "scales" ;)), if that knife was mine I'd be one happy camper.

Eric
Click to expand...

Very interesting... I have always called the covers scales. I've always thought this because of scales being external and the outer layer. As in, fish scales, snake scales, lime scale etc.

Have I been wrong all this time?

Paul
 
pmew said:
Very interesting... I have always called the covers scales. I've always thought this because of scales being external and the outer layer. As in, fish scales, snake scales, lime scale etc.

Have I been wrong all this time?

Paul
Click to expand...

You are not alone.
 
Looks like natural variations in the wood grain layers. One year may have been wetter/hotter/dryer/whatever from another year, creating slight variations in the tree ring colors. Nothing to worry about as far as quality or the treatment. :thumbup:
 
Me too I thought the correct term was scales. Is that not so? Must say I prefer "covers" though.
What if it has snakeskin covers? could they be called scales?:p

Regarding the walnut wood I think its part of what makes each piece somewhat unique and more beautiful than a synthetic material.
 
The cutler's term is "Cover".
To a cutler, the "scale" is part of the inner frame.
ea42 is a cutler. So he uses the term "cover".

I have used the term "scale" in the past. But, I am not a cutler.
I'm happy to have learned the cutler's term and now use that one.

But, in truth I don't think anyone will give a hoot if you use the term "scale" instead of "cover".


To get back to the issue at hand, natural materials have variations in them. Nature made them that way. If you want perfect uniformity, buy synthetics.
 
knarfeng said:
The cutler's term is "Cover".
To a cutler, the "scale" is part of the inner frame.
ea42 is a cutler. So he uses the term "cover".

I have used the term "scale" in the past. But, I am not a cutler.
I'm happy to have learned the cutler's term and now use that one.

But, in truth I don't think anyone will give a hoot if you use the term "scale" instead of "cover".


To get back to the issue at hand, natural materials have variations in them. Nature made them that way. If you want perfect uniformity, buy synthetics.
Click to expand...

I am aware of natural variances and nor did I state wanting uniformity. Most of my knives have natural materials for the handle including wood, ivory, and bone. I was just unsure of whether this was a natural variance to me, because of the very distinct differences in color.
 
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