stabilized wood?

pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is stabilized wood? is it harder to work with than normal wood?

i'm working on a couple of kit knives, and I wanted to try to make it look extra pretty. I was thinking of using buckeye burl (for an Ohio State person)

in a similar vein, anyone know where I can get some Buckeye wood?

...tm
 
L

LRICE

Joined
Jan 24, 2000
Messages
55
Stabilized wood is wood that has been impregnated throughout with a resin by using a vacuum to remove air trapped inside the pores then using pressure to force the resin inside. It is virtually impervious to the elements, chemicals, checking, cracking, shrinking, swelling etc. It can also make soft woods, which would normally be lousy for knife use, into fine handle material. It may seem slightly harder to work with but the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience (IMOH). To make a short story long, all the benefits of "plastic" with the natural beauty of the wood.
 
thanks for the quick answer... i found the answer to my question after doing a search on google.com

now that I know what it is, I just have to find some and I'll be all set
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Tom, as a former Buckeye myself, I have to tell you something. That Buckeye Burl is California Buckeye, but I won't tell if you won't.
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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Just about any of the knifemaking supply houses have stabilized burl material. K&G has always been good about sending great material. You have to specify if you want a little figure or a lot. Of course the more figure there is, the more you're going to pay.

If you really want to go all out, get in touch with Mike at Wood Stabilizing Specialists Int'l. He can fix you up with all kinds of stabilized burl, but something he can offer you that I don't think anyone else can, is double-dyed box elder burl.

It is quite simply, fantastic. You'll pay for it, but it's beautiful stuff. Just think, a highly stabilized burl that's been dyed blue, then silver. Or a handful of other color schemes he does.

You can find them at www.stabilizedwood.com/

Best of luck
Nick
 
Not only is stabilized wood "fixed" where it is almost impervious to the shrinkage problems of "regular" wood it is much easier to work with. Once is sanded to shape to the desired grit, it is only a matter of buffing it to finish. Whereas "regular" wood has to be sealed, tung-oil'ed, shellac'ed, varnish'ed or whatever. This adds a BUNCH of time to complete a knife.

Quite a few folks not only have wood stabilized but have their ivory or stag stabilized as well.

C Wilkins
 
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