shrinkage

[atakach]

any one ever have a problem with handle material shrinkage? i have heard of different materials shrinking over a period of years, but i have had 2 issues in the past few months. mainly with some projects i have been working on using oosic and sea cow.

one day i will have the fittings all fit up and polished nicely. then with in a couple days the handle material is signifigantly smaller leaving a less than desireable fit???

any ideas??

thanks

 

[Frank Niro]

Well, of course you know it's a moisture problem. The material just isn't dry. Here's what I have used for mammoth ivory. It has worked very well for me. I take the piece or pieces and place them in a microwave. You do not want to cook the pieces but just heat them to a point where they are just a bit more than warm in your hand. In my microwave this only takes about 10 seconds. Start with less. Let the piece or pieces cool and reheat. Do this three or four times and you should be good to go. Frank

 

[LRB]

Believe it or not, I have had micarta shrink when kept in an air conditioned store for more than a month.

 

[atakach]

was figuring it was a moisture prob. and actually thinking it may have had something to do with the a/c?

but my a/c is has a dehumidifier on it, ??? not sure if that would help or not.


thatns for the micro wave tip, ill have to try it. i have on wood before, just never thought to check the moisture content of the mentioned materials.