Which woods do not need to be stabilized

SDS

SDS

Joined
Oct 22, 2007
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Can anyone tell me which woods do not need to be stabilized?

I'm pretty sure Lignum Vitae does not but outside of that and maybe Ironwood I don't know which other woods are stable enough to be used without being stabilized.

Thanks,
SDS
 
SDS said:
Can anyone tell me which woods do not need to be stabilized?

I'm pretty sure Lignum Vitae does not but outside of that and maybe Ironwood I don't know which other woods are stable enough to be used without being stabilized.

Thanks,
SDS
Click to expand...

No wood needs to be stablized for knife handles because the only material suitable for knife handles is Micarta!

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
 
Ironwood is just about the most stable wood out there, more stable than most stabilized woods. If you want a comprehensive list, however, I am not the person to ask.
 
It sounds like there are a lot more on this list than I had originally thought. Thanks.
 
Snakewood
Lignum Vitae
Cocobolo
Desert Ironwood
Some Ebony (Macassar --spelling on that one??)
Bocote and Ziricote don't necessarily need to be, but it can help
Brazilian Walnut is generally good to go (but hard to get)
Afzelia Burl doesn't have to be, but it makes it have better weight when it's stabilized....

There may be a few others that are ok.

On a side note, I would soak any wood (other than Desert Ironwood) in Pentacryl overnight before I use it. It will evacuate the water content (you want it below 7% in most any wood).

By doing that, it will keep it from shrinking and stop cracking (especially in Snakewood).



MT
 
I don't think I'd recommend making a long, thin scale out of ebony, but it was used as knife handle material long before modern stabilization procedures.
-Mark
 
bikermikearchery said:
Black Palm, not really a wood but very heavy and dense. I don't know if you could get anything to penetrate it.
Click to expand...

And it's b***h to cut without it splintering...made two kinves with it and the scales ended up being a lot thinner than I had planned getting them smoothed out!:eek:
 
Ilovetoolsteel said:
No wood needs to be stablized for knife handles because the only material suitable for knife handles is Micarta!

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
Click to expand...

Now tell me...

As a knifemaker, why would you put micarta on a blade (unless it is of the tactical variety) and not wood when you can demand at least 50 percent more for a nice wood handle?

Craig
 
C L Wilkins said:
Now tell me...

As a knifemaker, why would you put micarta on a blade (unless it is of the tactical variety) and not wood when you can demand at least 50 percent more for a nice wood handle?

Craig
Click to expand...


Why would you build automotive bumpers out of steel when you could make them out of copper and sell them for much more? Because steel is better.

The answer to your question is simple, Because Micarta is better.
 
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