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What Is It With You Guys And Neem?
- Thread starter munk
- Start date
Walking Man
BANNED
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- May 28, 2003
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- 9,606
WE ARE THE KNIGHTS WHO SAY:
NEEM!
NEEM!
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
- Messages
- 20,029
Well I don't know if I qualify as a woodchuck, but here goes.
Neem is aromatic. The aroma fills the cab of my truck. Additionally it has a beautiful grain pattern, each of my neem handled knives has a curly grained part too. Also there is a very pretty ashey darkish brown to golden color to it. Also there is the history behind neem, which has been used as a medicine for centuries. I read somewhere that the Romans were very worried their economy might topple because of a trade imbalance caused by the import of neem as a medicine from India. Its still used as a medicine today, and can be bought in capsules from health food stores. Don't take it if you plan to have a child soon, it warns on the bottle. Recently someone posted a link about a guy importing the saplings for planting here. Lots to the neem craze. Others will, undoubtedly, know more.
Neem is aromatic. The aroma fills the cab of my truck. Additionally it has a beautiful grain pattern, each of my neem handled knives has a curly grained part too. Also there is a very pretty ashey darkish brown to golden color to it. Also there is the history behind neem, which has been used as a medicine for centuries. I read somewhere that the Romans were very worried their economy might topple because of a trade imbalance caused by the import of neem as a medicine from India. Its still used as a medicine today, and can be bought in capsules from health food stores. Don't take it if you plan to have a child soon, it warns on the bottle. Recently someone posted a link about a guy importing the saplings for planting here. Lots to the neem craze. Others will, undoubtedly, know more.
:thumbup:- Joined
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I am not a woodchuck either and I don't have (yet) any neem handled khuks, but looking at the beautiful pictures Yangdu posts, it seems to have more pronounced color and figure than most of the regular wood used in HI khuks.
I myself like the look of satisal (East Indian rosewood, Dalbergia latifolia), its cousin, the sisau (Dalbergia sissoo), rakta chandan (red sandalwood, Pterocarpus santalinus), and that of the walnut (Juglans regia ?).
Satisal, sisau and rakta chandan are all leguminous trees, i.e. nitrogen-fixing plants belonging to the Fabaceae sensu lato (legumes or pulses in the broad sense) family. Many of the tropical hardwoods are leguminous trees, like cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), Brazilian rosewood (Jacarandá, Dalbergia nigra), Honduras rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii) etc.
According to internet sources, these should be harder woods than the neem (Azadirachta indica), but neem is not a softwood either, since it is part of the Meliaceae (mahogany) family.
As for khuk handles, I would be interested to know, how durable is neem in regular hard use or when exposed to typical winter cold.
Just because neem is somewhat softer than satisal, does not mean that it cannot have for example even better shock resistance.
Also, due to its natural high resistence to fungal decay and insect attack, it may be ideal in very humid enviroments.
It would be interesting to see some comparative testing to find out which Nepali wood would be optimal for user khuks in different enviroments (wet, dry, hot, cold).
I myself like the look of satisal (East Indian rosewood, Dalbergia latifolia), its cousin, the sisau (Dalbergia sissoo), rakta chandan (red sandalwood, Pterocarpus santalinus), and that of the walnut (Juglans regia ?).
Satisal, sisau and rakta chandan are all leguminous trees, i.e. nitrogen-fixing plants belonging to the Fabaceae sensu lato (legumes or pulses in the broad sense) family. Many of the tropical hardwoods are leguminous trees, like cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), Brazilian rosewood (Jacarandá, Dalbergia nigra), Honduras rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii) etc.
According to internet sources, these should be harder woods than the neem (Azadirachta indica), but neem is not a softwood either, since it is part of the Meliaceae (mahogany) family.
As for khuk handles, I would be interested to know, how durable is neem in regular hard use or when exposed to typical winter cold.
Just because neem is somewhat softer than satisal, does not mean that it cannot have for example even better shock resistance.
Also, due to its natural high resistence to fungal decay and insect attack, it may be ideal in very humid enviroments.
It would be interesting to see some comparative testing to find out which Nepali wood would be optimal for user khuks in different enviroments (wet, dry, hot, cold).
Some interesting info there. I must say, that what caught my eye, was the last DOTD. The M43 with the Neem handle. When I looked at the pic, I said to myself, that's one nice piece of antler. The pic (not the closeup) looked much like a nicely textured piece of antler. Then I saw the closeup pic, and saw that it was wood (neem), and had one very beautiful grain pattern. Whoever landed that M43 got one beautiful handle.
mike
mike
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2003
- Messages
- 3,049
cndrm said:
thats exactly what i though
ALBPM; what khuk is that? A UB special or Yangdu Special?
>>>>>>>>>>
I just talked to Yangdu about Neem. In fact, she sent me a long scientific email about the woods which are used by HI.
I know Neem is beautiful, but the fragrance must surely fade.
munk
>>>>>>>>>>
I just talked to Yangdu about Neem. In fact, she sent me a long scientific email about the woods which are used by HI.
I know Neem is beautiful, but the fragrance must surely fade.
munk
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2005
- Messages
- 20,029
Post the data Munk. Neem zombies want to know.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2003
- Messages
- 4,794
The first Neem knife I got was a disappointment. It was on an 11" YCS karda. I snagged one after I saw Sweet's pics of his 14" YCS karda in neem, which was very pretty. (I believe he got the first one ever made.)
The wood had a very strong scent, and was exceedingly plain. I like the smell but it was too much at first. Hardly any grain to it; satisal was prettier. Plus it was somewhat rough to the touch.
And then I got the Sher Movie model and what a difference! Subtle glow in the dark grain patterns, and smooth glossy feel. What a chunk of wood. Since then it has been hit or miss. I have a piece on a 15" salyan that is pretty plain, but another on a 12" salyan that is great. I have a drop dead gorgeous peice on a Jange, but my nicest is probably on that 30" siru from a few weeks ago.
Overall it is a very nice wood. Everyonce in a while a plain piece comes up, but even that has a nice scent to it. I did a little woodchucking to the YCS and now it's fine. I can see why people get fanatic about it. I just wish HI had it before I got a few dozen knives that were all either horn or satisal. (-:
The variety of woods today is incredible in comparison.
Norm
The wood had a very strong scent, and was exceedingly plain. I like the smell but it was too much at first. Hardly any grain to it; satisal was prettier. Plus it was somewhat rough to the touch.
And then I got the Sher Movie model and what a difference! Subtle glow in the dark grain patterns, and smooth glossy feel. What a chunk of wood. Since then it has been hit or miss. I have a piece on a 15" salyan that is pretty plain, but another on a 12" salyan that is great. I have a drop dead gorgeous peice on a Jange, but my nicest is probably on that 30" siru from a few weeks ago.
Overall it is a very nice wood. Everyonce in a while a plain piece comes up, but even that has a nice scent to it. I did a little woodchucking to the YCS and now it's fine. I can see why people get fanatic about it. I just wish HI had it before I got a few dozen knives that were all either horn or satisal. (-:
The variety of woods today is incredible in comparison.
Norm
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2003
- Messages
- 19,911
neem neem the magical wood. got wood? good :>
even the plain neem handles probably would look fantastic if carefully sanded to a mirror polish and then oiled a bunch. oh yes. though for use, after all that carefull work, pehaps a LEETLE rough grit, just a little... it looks like birds eye maple
i have toothpaste with neem an tea tree "essences". smells good, tastes good. neemly fresh.
a lot of the wood used in the handles and related families (cocobolo comes to mind) are somewhat rather toxic if burned/breathed too much - i hope the kamis/etc know that. then again, knife making is somewhat hazardous to the health
mmmm, tea tree wood - what's that look like?
bladite
even the plain neem handles probably would look fantastic if carefully sanded to a mirror polish and then oiled a bunch. oh yes. though for use, after all that carefull work, pehaps a LEETLE rough grit, just a little... it looks like birds eye maple
i have toothpaste with neem an tea tree "essences". smells good, tastes good. neemly fresh.
a lot of the wood used in the handles and related families (cocobolo comes to mind) are somewhat rather toxic if burned/breathed too much - i hope the kamis/etc know that. then again, knife making is somewhat hazardous to the health
mmmm, tea tree wood - what's that look like?
bladite