snakewood for scales.

C

crank78

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Dec 21, 2013
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does anyone know where I can find some snakewood scales? I can find it on the net, but im not sure if everyone's knife scales are stabilized equally. checked burls site he didn't seem to have any.
 
I say go to Gilmer's website. They always have some but there is a $100 minimum order.
Be careful on ebay. Snakewood takes forever to dry and there are usually some selling fresh cut stuff.
Keep a bottle of CA glue on hand for the checks.
 
Check with Stacy he has a great method of suing Ca for snake wood. It works real well but is labor intensive.
 
yea that's why I was hoping you would chime in and say I have some its just not on my site. im new and don't now many of the suppliers. I would guess snakewood needs to be stabilized for knife handles? if not I know where to get it.
does gilmer stabilize his.
 
Gilmer wood only sells natural, unstabilized wood.
Most makers use snakewood natural, but it can be stabilized.
Very often with snakewood there will be some small checks/cracks that you will need to fill with CA glue.
Also be careful when shaping and sanding not to get it hot.
If you are new I would suggest learning with other more forgiving woods.
 
Gee thanks a lot, Mark. Now I know about Gilmer and already bought $210 of African Blackwood I don't need. :)
 
Im new to knifemaking. Have used Snakewood in pool cues. Due to it being brittle we just use it as a skin around a maple Dowell. I wasn't sure how it would hold up on a knife. We use a different stabilization process and clear coat for protection. If its still that brittle after being vacuum stabilized or however you pros do it. I may just go with some spalted wood.
 
Especially since i have all kinds of what i think is spalted sycamore behind the house. How much is it to get it stabilized.
 
Yea i have made my mind up. Ty Burl if the stabilization process used by knifemakers doesn't make it any more durable. Its not a good choice for a knife that will be used a lot.
 
Miles Gilmer has great wood. They are professionals, and just like Mark, won't sell you junk....because they want you back again as a customer.

They aren't cheap, but the quality has always been very high in everything I bought from them. Tell them what you want the woods you by for so they know what to look for in selection.

Snakewood is beautiful, but has to be worked carefully.
It is best to let the wood sit on the shelf for six months to a year before you even use it as a knife handle. Allow it to normalize with your climate, and to continue any dryng needed.

It is not for you if you don't have a VS grinder. If you don't have VS...... only work it by hand. A fast grinder will destroy it....guaranteed!
Use fresh belts and abrasives and NEVER get it hot. As Mark said, have a bottle of thin CA on hand, and flood every crack before working the wood. As you work it, check for new cracks al the time, flood these as you find them. Once the handle is shaped to the final shape at 400 grit, flood the entire handle and let cure for a day. Sand off by hand with 400 grit paper and repeat a time or two. Every time, sand all the surface resin off. You only want the wood showing, not any CA glue. Once those sealing processes are done, you can sand snakewood to 2500 grit and it will shine like glass. The finer the grit and more thorough the sanding job, the more 3-D the snakeskin look is. You are not done yet, though. Set the knife in a normal room temperature place for a month. After leaving it alone for that time, inspect carefully (a magnifier is good here), and look for new cracks or checking. Flood and fill as needed...and set aside for a second month. If all is well after that, the knife can be put out for sale or put in use. Check every 3-6 months for cracks, as they can show up over a very long period.
 
Carlton's Rare woods near Downtown Atlanta has it. It is not cut for knife scales. You will need to call them. They keep it in a secret place in the back office. They also have every other kind of wood you can dream of and a lot that you have never heard of.

http://www.rarewoodsandveneers.com/
 
bladsmth said:
Miles Gilmer has great wood. They are professionals, and just like Mark, won't sell you junk....because they want you back again as a customer.

They aren't cheap, but the quality has always been very high in everything I bought from them. Tell them what you want the woods you by for so they know what to look for in selection.

Snakewood is beautiful, but has to be worked carefully.
It is best to let the wood sit on the shelf for six months to a year before you even use it as a knife handle. Allow it to normalize with your climate, and to continue any dryng needed.

It is not for you if you don't have a VS grinder. If you don't have VS...... only work it by hand. A fast grinder will destroy it....guaranteed!
Use fresh belts and abrasives and NEVER get it hot. As Mark said, have a bottle of thin CA on hand, and flood every crack before working the wood. As you work it, check for new cracks al the time, flood these as you find them. Once the handle is shaped to the final shape at 400 grit, flood the entire handle and let cure for a day. Sand off by hand with 400 grit paper and repeat a time or two. Every time, sand all the surface resin off. You only want the wood showing, not any CA glue. Once those sealing processes are done, you can sand snakewood to 2500 grit and it will shine like glass. The finer the grit and more thorough the sanding job, the more 3-D the snakeskin look is. You are not done yet, though. Set the knife in a normal room temperature place for a month. After leaving it alone for that time, inspect carefully (a magnifier is good here), and look for new cracks or checking. Flood and fill as needed...and set aside for a second month. If all is well after that, the knife can be put out for sale or put in use. Check every 3-6 months for cracks, as they can show up over a very long period.
Click to expand...
just like cue making in that aspect. I bought a lath then called a guy to get some wood. he let me know I screwed up. I should have bought the wood 5 years before the lathe lol.

lol yea I think ill wait a bit before I try working with it. the stabilized spalted is not that long of a process is it?
 
A follow-up word about Gilmer... the order I placed on the afternoon of 1/27 is going to be delivered today (by UPS ground). I must say, I was shocked when I got the notice it would be coming today... then I noticed Gilmer is in Portland. Now I have ANOTHER place I have to stop when traveling to Oregon.

Can't wait to see the wood.
 
The box arrived today and I am very pleased. Some really great stuff. Of the 50+ oversize blocks (63 pounds of wood), only 2 have a significant bug hole and only 1 has a crack, and I can still salvage most of that wood anyway. Fabulous stuff!
 
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