Question about inlays

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Mar 15, 2000
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Does anyone know if the snakewood inlays CRK uses are stabilized? Thanks in advance!;)
 
I am not sure, but would like to know as well. Just got a snakewood inlay.
From the little info I know about snakewood, is that it is difficult to stabilize. So if it is, that's awesome, but I will not be discouraged or anything if it is natural. Still my favorite type of wood.
Please post your findings.
 
I just got off the phone with Angela from CRK and she said all woods used for inlays are stabilized including snake wood.
 
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Good info..I really need to get a snakewood, they look great. Some really unique patterns out there:)
 
Interesting. When I asked about their Cocobolo I was told that it is not stabilized. That makes sense since it is a very hard, naturally oily wood.
 
That's what I thought and that's why I asked. I thought I heard that some of the woods (like ironwood) weren't stabilized. Snake wood supposedly makes its own oil. I think I'll have to call again.:eek:
 
I just got a Damascus ladder with Snakewood inlays. It is beautiful and would like to make it an occassional user; knowing will be welcome
 
I think that stabilized or not you can be sure that you can use your snake wood sebenza without worries. When I asked Angela there was no hesitation in her reply. All woods are stabilized end of discussion. But I will call again Monday. :thumbup:
 
Thanks for finding out for us! I thought there were a few woods that were left au naturel but I was wrong:)
 
Ernie you might not be wrong. I again just got off the phone with Angela from CRK and she said that ALL woods they currently offer are stabilized. Iron wood is no longer offered as is mammoth ivory. Snake wood cocobolo box elder are stabilized. Hope this helps.:cool:
 
I think that stabilized or not you can be sure that you can use your snake wood sebenza without worries. When I asked Angela there was no hesitation in her reply. All woods are stabilized end of discussion. But I will call again Monday. :thumbup:

Thanks, I'm planing to use it, is a lefty and also got a Gabon ebony lefty which is in my pocket today. Both small Sebenzas
 
The wood is soaked in resin that is dissolved in solvent. This solution is absorbed by the wood. The solvent evaporates and the resin hardens. It preserves the grain and look of the wood while making it easier to cut, shape and sand into desirable shapes. It hardens the wood if you will. Hope this helps.
 
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Ernie you might not be wrong. I again just got off the phone with Angela from CRK and she said that ALL woods they currently offer are stabilized. Iron wood is no longer offered as is mammoth ivory. Snake wood cocobolo box elder are stabilized. Hope this helps.:cool:

Maybe the variable here is "currently offered." I talked to them a few years ago and was clearly told that inlays such as the dense tropical hardwoods were not stabilized. I'm not sure you could stabilize Lignum Vitae, for example, and even if you can it might be quite uneven and would likely be unnecessary.
 
Yes. Currently is the variable. I also thought some of the woods weren't stabilized and I wondered if snake wood was one of those unstablized woods. I will assume it's one of the stabilized ones and I'm not sure it makes a difference. :cool:
 
Yep, some woods really don't need it. In those cases, I'd rather not. You're basically plasticizing the wood. :o For some woods and for some uses, it's a worthwhile tradeoff. In other cases, meh...
 
Yes I was going to use that word plasticizing. I thought it would sound cheap. I prefer the plasticizing as it makes the wood durable without compromising the beauty of the wood. Kind of like an ancient bug preserved in tree sap. As in Amber.
 
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