Stainless spacer question

Nate Webb

Nate Webb

Joined
May 30, 2023
Messages
85
Good morning all. I've run into a new issue for me, and I wonder if I could get some suggestions.

I recently completed a gyuto for a client, and at the customer's request used African Blackwood for the handle with a stainless spacer. A couple of days after finishing the handle (fortunately before shipping to the customer) I noticed the spacer was sitting just slightly proud of the wood all the way around. It wasn't visually apparent, but it was obvious in the hand. So I lightly sanded it back flush and refinished the handle. I'm going to let it sit for a couple of days now before shipping to see if the issue presents itself again.

Metal spacers in wood handles aren't something I've done much with in the past. Is there something I can do during the initial fit-up and finish to help prevent this issue going forward?
 
Shape the handle roughly to size, but leave it proud. Let it sit around your shop for a couple weeks to let it settle, then finish to final size.

That'll let it "normalize" for lack of a better word.

Wood moves. It's a natural material, and it absorbs and loses water with the humidity of the environment.

Stabilized wood moves less, but it still moves too, just the nature of the beast. I suppose that's why people like to do that "museum" or "heirloom" fit, where you leave the wood a bit proud and then round the corners down to the fittings.

I personally think that sort of fit looks incomplete, but that's just my opinion... Good luck with the wood!
 
I had hoped the Blackwood would be sufficiently stable. Ah well, live and learn I guess...
 
Sand with a hard backer, that will keep you from removing more wood then steel
 
EVERYTHING expands and contracts. FACT of life. The problem is not everything expands and contracts in the same amount of time. The exact reason I hate the new love of metal roofing that promises a 40 year guarantee but the several thousand of rubber washer screws used in the valleys are the problem. Yes I have seen tons of sad results of this. Sorry to derail this thread. But TRUE science isn't wrong.
 
I've done a couple heirloom fitments- I don't know if applies to your question, but it is a good way to minimize the appearance and feel of disparate materials. Downside? It takes a lot longer to do than not, and it's a pain in the ass.

ok3I0b4.jpg


syyduDf.jpg


YX6Dee6.jpg


L4n0Rox.jpg


another thing that I think about when some nice wood is involved in a handle is the importance of a liner material. I like vulcanized fiber for that. In the same vein- flexible epoxy makes a lot of sense to me for any situation where wood and metal are side by side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top