Remember the Stabilized Hickory thread?

Karl B. Andersen

Karl B. Andersen

Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Messages
5,699
A few months back - sometime this winter - we were discussing the fact that we saw so little use of Hickory as a handle material.
It just so happened that at that time, I had recently sent some off to have stabilized.
This is the result of that.
I forged this out of a chunk of "stuff" I found on Jerry's floor.
Just kidding! Believe me - I earned it.
W2 and 203E twist from Jerry Rados' shop.
I've got a buddy across the river who does custom kitchens and such and he had quite a stack of Hickory blocks left over from a job that he was going to use in his wood burner to heat his house.
I cut up some blocks, put them in my shop ceiling for about a year and sent them to K and G for stabilizing.
I am so totally thrilled with it.
It was AMAZINGLY hard and dense and has character and figure that I did NOT know was in there.
Anyway, sorry. I just like it. A lot.
You can sort of see the little "sparkles" in it that I think may be some type of resin or something. It really dances!
And I liked the contrast it gave to the hot-blued Damascus and stainless take-down fittings.
Thanks for letting me run on.
rth3-1.jpg
 
Beautiful stuff! Hickory is a great wood when stabilized. Unfortunately, it is one of the worst for air drying. Like pecan (it's first cousin) it is prone to cracking as it dries (very unstable). Once it is dry and stabilized, it's an outstanding wood for beauty and durability.

Nice job!

Gary
 
Absolutely fantastic, love the Hickory handle as well as the blade!!

Let me ask a question.
When you send wood off the be stabalized, do send it off as blocks, handle size, yet to be shaped or are you sending an oversized somewhat shaped handle?
 
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It's cool the way the "cutback" on the end of your handle design REALLY enhances the grain appearance!
 
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