Spalted beech as knife handle?

E

Eriksen

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Sep 18, 2005
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Is spalted beech popular to use for knife handles? I got a good deal today, about 150 kg, and I wondered if it was worth the trouble to cut them up as blanks. They are 2" thick. For how long time do I need to let them dry before I cut them into blanks?
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As a general rule, you want it to dry for about a year per inch of thickness.

Dunno if spalted beech is popular or not, but if it's pretty, and you get it stabilized, why not?
 
Do you plan to get the blocks stabilized? I have a cheap moisture meter and get my wood down close to 9-10% moisture content and then cut it into blocks and send it for stabilizing at K&G. I tend to find interesting wood in the bush. Sometimes I just leave the wood as logs, other times I cut it into 1.5-3" slabs.
Like A. McPherson says, if it is pretty, go for it. I have all sorts of species of spalted wood that look beautiful. I don't care if it is popular or not, if it looks good it is great for knife handles.
Your pictures look like there is some potential for some nice blocks.
 
Spalted beech is popular and not uncommon in Europe.
It is sold natural and dyed.
Ship it over to Australia and they'll think of it as an exotic.
I prefer spalted birch over beech myself.
 
I would cut in some larger blocks (ca 6cm thick, 10-12 cm wide) to see how it looks. I don't think there is a risk of larger cracks like with green wood.

If you are in Europe and interested I would trade you some spalted apple blocks for it..
 
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