Stabalized wood - or not?

[j22knife]

I like the look of real wood. Are there advantages to stabilized wood? Does stabilization protect the wood or make it not look like wood any more?

Thanks

 

[t_davis925]

Stabilized wood has had all (or nearly all) of the empty space within the wood, such as pores, filled with industrial resin. This essentially makes the wood waterproof and resistant to warping and other problems with untreated wood, and turns it into a material that machines much like micarta. When taken to a high polish, it looks accordingly like wood that has been taken to a high polish. In other words, it will absolutely retain the look of the wood, as long as you take it to a high grit/polish, though it should feel fairly different depending.

 

[j22knife]

Thanks for that. Would you say the benefits outweigh the disadvantages - feel? When used in a wet environment - the kitchen?

 

[watercrawl]

Stabilized wood will often darken the natural color of the wood.

It will also, in many cases, loose most or all of the natural feel of wood.

However, the advantages, at least for me, far outweigh the disadvantages. It doesn't swell/shrink. It doesn't absorb water/oil/etc. It doesn't warp/twist. Etc.

Lastly, not all stabilization is equal. Use a good stabilizer and it will be far, far better than the typical home brew crap you get from eBay sellers. K&G and WSSI are my favorites....but there are others who do a good job as well.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Even though I get shrinkage with stabilized wood I feel that it is almost necessary with woods moving long distances, especially with slab/scale handles. The movement is lessened or even negated, I don't find it affects the feel much, and aesthetically it seems to maintain the look of the handle better as a user. Honestly I don't see why one would choose unstabilized if they have a choice.

 

[j22knife]

OK - that's good advice, all of you.

I do have a choice and I'll go with the stabilized.