Recommendation? Scale Stabilization Service

R

Ranger 77

Joined
Aug 24, 2014
Messages
44
Hello BF. I have a set of spalted maple scales sourced from a local tree. I was hoping someone could recommend a shop that can stabilize these scales for me for a custom build.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.
 
I would give a few warnings.

Its generally not a great idea to stabilize scales unless they are about 1/2 thick.

Diffrent woods react diffrently, some woods move a lot and get coated in resin, some barely seem to change. In my experience, spalted maple moves a lot and becomes encased in the resins. Scales in particular move a lot, so if possible i would recommend sending blocks.
 
Also, measure the moisture content of the wood before sending out to be stabilized. K&G recommends less than 8%.
 
google "Wood Stabilization" and you will find 5 or 6 sites that will do small quantities. several even do sample runs of one or two pieces.
 
scott.livesey said:
google "Wood Stabilization" and you will find 5 or 6 sites that will do small quantities. several even do sample runs of one or two pieces.
Click to expand...

I recommend against this.

K&G is the best in terms of service, quality and understanding of the process. There is simply no other real competition to them.

Given the number of hours put into a knife, i think it is a little silly to save 7 dollars on stabilizing for an almost certainly inferior product.
 
I'll be the 5th to recommend K&G. They've done over 200 blocks of spalted maple and maple burl for me and I haven't had any problems.
The only thing I'll caution against is dyeing the wood. I tired blue and red and the dye washed out all the spalting. It's possible I sent them blocks that were too porous, or that Big Leaf Maple doesn't dye well, but IMO the natural spalting is beautiful enough to not need dyeing.

At risk of stirring up a controversy, if you really want to try dyeing, have someone who does home stabilization using cactus juice or other similar methods. I think the less powerful vacuum of home stabilization only allows the dye to get into the more pourous sections and the denser sections will retain their natural colors. K&G's high pressures that ensure the stabilization "epoxy" (correct my terms) gets permeated throughout the entire piece also pushes the dye throughout the entire piece.
 
weo said:
I'll be the 5th to recommend K&G. They've done over 200 blocks of spalted maple and maple burl for me and I haven't had any problems.
The only thing I'll caution against is dyeing the wood. I tired blue and red and the dye washed out all the spalting. It's possible I sent them blocks that were too porous, or that Big Leaf Maple doesn't dye well, but IMO the natural spalting is beautiful enough to not need dyeing.

At risk of stirring up a controversy, if you really want to try dyeing, have someone who does home stabilization using cactus juice or other similar methods. I think the less powerful vacuum of home stabilization only allows the dye to get into the more pourous sections and the denser sections will retain their natural colors. K&G's high pressures that ensure the stabilization "epoxy" (correct my terms) gets permeated throughout the entire piece also pushes the dye throughout the entire piece.
Click to expand...

I have had excellent luck with dying through K&G. Spalting and dye do not mix well in my opinion. If you are dying wood you should start with clean, bright and consistantly colored wood to have good results.

The stabilant used is not an epoxy. An epoxy is a mix of two different chemicals, one containing a resin backbone, the other a source of either epoxides or OH groups to allow cross linking. K&G uses a polymer dissolved in solution. It soaks into the wood, the solvent is then cooked off as the heat cures the polymer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: weo
Can confirm it's polymer because it smells like doing boat fiberglass work when you grind it. Very distinct smell.
 
Greenberg Woods said:
I recommend against this. K&G is the best in terms of service, quality and understanding of the process. There is simply no other real competition to them. Given the number of hours put into a knife, i think it is a little silly to save 7 dollars on stabilizing for an almost certainly inferior product.
Click to expand...
how does one know if you don't try alternatives? K&G was the second shop that showed when i googled "wood stabilization service". prices among the 5 are within 10% or so.
 
weo said:
The only thing I'll caution against is dyeing the wood. I tired blue and red and the dye washed out all the spalting. It's possible I sent them blocks that were too porous, or that Big Leaf Maple doesn't dye well, but IMO the natural spalting is beautiful enough to not need dyeing.
Click to expand...

I am not really looking for dye. I think the wood looks fine as is.
 
Last edited:
I am more apt to go with recommendations. Actually, the builder I chose for the knife recommend K&B as well. I am also a fan of the way Mr. Edgington returned my email the next day, offered to toss my scales in with another lot giving me a few days turnaround time, will send me the bill when they are ready and is fine with shipping them on to the builder I have selected. Seems like a good outfit to me.

My scales should be pretty dry by now. They came from an old tree on my land. They are 1/2 thick and have been sitting around for a few years now. I am guessing they have been sitting in my workshop for 3 or 4 years now. Maybe longer. No cracks. I still have a bunch left if something should happen with these.
 
Greenberg Woods said:
I recommend against this.

K&G is the best in terms of service, quality and understanding of the process. There is simply no other real competition to them.

Given the number of hours put into a knife, i think it is a little silly to save 7 dollars on stabilizing for an almost certainly inferior product.
Click to expand...
I have had a number of batches of wood stabilized by K&G and they alway do a perfect job.
 
scott.livesey said:
how does one know if you don't try alternatives? K&G was the second shop that showed when i googled "wood stabilization service". prices among the 5 are within 10% or so.
Click to expand...

I have used other services and tested many blocks done by other groups. K&G is considered the gold standard among knife makers for a very clear reason. In every test i have ever run, they come out on top.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top