Snakewood?

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
I ran across a piece of snakewood a couple weeks ago that I had forgotten I had. Anyway snakewood is one material I have never had any luck with keeping it from cracking. I've had it crack during hand sanding and several times after the knife is completed. Any suggestions on solving those problems other than not using it?
 
I don't know if there is a completely effective way to keep
Snakewood from checking....But, what I di is to predrill
blocks, and do some rounding off, then send the pieces
out for stabilizing. It seems that the acrilic penetrates
from within and from outside the piece, and does a bit better
job.
 
I have used snakewood with good success, but I always let it dry for several years in my shop before I try to use it.
 
In one of the other forums Steve Johnson said he used Pentacryl on the snakewood to help it from splitting. This was after the completed handle was done.
 
ive used it in a stabilized form, and didn't find it brittle at all, actually seemed fairly hard and durable.

is what your using stabilized??

andrew
 
This was some snakewood from maybe 10 years ago. I don't think at the time they believe it could be stabilized. I'm still not convinced it will accept being stabilized now. I may just put this piece on hold awhile longer. Thanks for the suggestions!
 
Ray,
I have done a home stabilization on some snakewood. It seemed to work, no checking in 6-7yrs on a knife. I have like 5 gallons of resolute and a gallon of nelsonite if you wanted to try some.
 
A C Richards said:
Ray,
I have done a home stabilization on some snakewood. It seemed to work, no checking in 6-7yrs on a knife. I have like 5 gallons of resolute and a gallon of nelsonite if you wanted to try some.
Click to expand...

Chuck, Will you be doing the Mini Show this year? If so maybe I could purchase a little of both if you do the show. I'm still gun shy with the snakewood.
 
Ray, You can have the Nelsonite. I will probably not use it since Ihave 5 g of the resolute. They are both essentially the same. I am planning on going to the mini show, just need to call Dennis.
 
A C Richards said:
Ray, You can have the Nelsonite. I will probably not use it since Ihave 5 g of the resolute. They are both essentially the same. I am planning on going to the mini show, just need to call Dennis.
Click to expand...

What more could I ask for? I still need to call about the show to. Thanks!
 
Jeez, Ray, if you've only had that crackwood...er...snakewood 10 years I'd give it a couple more weeks....

I've had stabilized and non-stabilized crack about equal. Snakewood is a very dense wood full of toulouse which makes it not want to flex or dissipate heat well. Clean, slow drilling to keep the swarth from cracking the side holes and clean new grinding belts to keep the heat down. Snakewood likes to heat crack. The rewards of success are worth the aggravation in my book. Hairline cracks and checks in snakewood are almost invisible until you feel a ridge. Spritz with naptha or other light solvent and watch for the hair line checks. Super glue helps fix them.
 
I have avoided cracking snakewood by sanding with a 60 grit belt to almost finished shape on a belt grinder, and them immediately shifting to hand sanding.

A very course new belt will help to eliminate cracking.

I have only used stabilized snakewood.

Mike L.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top