Stabilizing wood scales

[karnaaj]

How important is it to stabilize wood scales if they are made out of standard wood like Walnut and not out of some fancier type like burl or something spalted? Thanks

 

[stalbot]

Thanks for posting this. I'll be interested to see the answer as well.

 

[james terrio]

It depends on the species.

Walnut is very stable and makes great knife handles, whether it's stabilized or not.

 

[parbajtor]

It depends on the species.

Walnut is very stable and makes great knife handles, whether it's stabilized or not.

+1.

Stability, density and a high content of natural oils (which increase the resistance against biological and chemical attack) give some woods less/no reason to be stabilised at all (if it's even possible to do so). Generally speaking the lighter and more porous a wood is, the more likely it will need stabilisation.

Woods that don't need stabilising include; Desert Ironwood, most other Ironwoods, most (if not all) Dalbergia species including the Rosewoods, Palisander, Cocobolo, Grenadilla etc. Jarrah, Greenheart, Purpleheart, Ebony and many more.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Now there is some GOOD information. Thank you, Mr. P.
Sonny

 

[phillipsted]

I would also add Lignum Vitae to the list of the woods "not needing stabilization".

TedP