Stabilize for wood and resin scales?

[toddbg]

I am planning on making some kitchen knives (from kits) and making scales with locust wood cast with colored epoxy.

Do I need to stabilize the wood before casting?

Can I cast as a block and then cut into scales afterwards or should I cast each scale closer to size?

 

[Ken H>]

If this is the locust wood as in "Black Locust" I don't think you need to work about stabilizing. That stuff is HARD 'n DENSE! Fence posts last 100 yrs and more.

 

[Jrmysell]

Yeah I don’t think locust needs stabilizing. I would do it all as a block and then split your block though. Just one pour vs 2

 

[PMQ]

There was a thread a while ago discussing what wood needs stabilizing, what doesn't:

Woods For knife handles (update 2)

Hey Again guys, I made some updates and added several new woods to this, so I hope you guys enjoy and learn something new! feel free to ask me anything about woods! Highly Workable, Good choice for beginner wood workers/ handle makers. *= wood could be stabilized **= wood should be...

www.bladeforums.com

Someone commented that Black Locust doesn't need stabilising.

 

[Keith Nix]

I would contact the maker of the casting resin you intend to use. I seem to recall Curtis at Turn Tex (Cactus Juice) saying his Alumilite resin bonds better to stabilized woods. That would be the a good reason to stabilize even black locust.

 

[Alex Topfer]

i would also worry about bubbles from the wood into the resin. so you may want to seal the end at least