spalted sycamore

[hirokatsu]

Hi Im thinking about getting a knife with spalted sycamore scales and I wood like to know how well this wood holds up checks cracks shrinks etc I wood like opinions on both natural and stabilized thanks.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I would recommend stabilizing sycamore, because it isn't a very hard wood. It is not prone to checking or cracking/splitting. Shrinking may be a problem if the wood is not kiln dried. It will also swell in humid climates. Stabilizing will prevent these problems.