Toasted Hickory

[cruisaire]

I wanted to try something new to me....topped with pure tung.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TeNP6S4m6SQdT80h1

 

[Square_peg]

It's attractive and probably fine for a hatchet but I am not a fan of fire hardening wood. It weakens it too much. It was a trick used by handle makers to make their lowest grade hickory handles look snazzy and hopefully sell.

On another website I see guys charring the hell out of perfectly good hickory. They just don't realize the damage they're doing.

https://arstechnica.com/science/201...ardened-spears-arent-as-badass-as-we-thought/

 

[300Six]

It's attractive and probably fine for a hatchet but I am not a fan of fire hardening wood. It weakens it too much. It was a trick used by handle makers to make their lowest grade hickory handles look snazzy and hopefully sell.

On another website I see guys charring the hell out of perfectly good hickory. They just don't realize the damage they're doing.

I'd never given this any thought (nor was ever tempted to buy) but you're right that it would disguise heartwood colours, blemishes and small knots.

 

[junkenstien]

Handle from a flint edge boys axe that was flame hardened,could not tell how bad it was till I started thinning it.

 

[jblyttle]

I don't mind the look of VERY lightly toasted wood although I would not do it myself. Just enough to start to darken the grain lines maybe looks ok. But I don't go for the blackened/charred look.

I figure the wood will darken up nicely with normal use. Natural vs. Forced patina.

 

[garry3]

Not sure how much damage they are doing by scorching the outside fibers. Its for sure not helping though. Interestingly Link handles are charging for that that flame hardened finish as that is the most expensive handle in their line.

 

[300Six]

Not sure how much damage they are doing by scorching the outside fibers. Its for sure not helping though. Interestingly Link handles are charging for that that flame hardened finish as that is the most expensive handle in their line.

The 'flavour of the month' fashion component of private industry knows no bounds. Which can somewhat be likened to liberated ladies cheerfully forking over $100 more to have the knees of their brand-spanking new jeans already holed.