Wood discoloration from stabilizing.

M

Mobius1

Joined
Feb 15, 2016
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I made the mistake of using Cactus Juice on some Holly, which turned it a little yellow. Normally I wouldn't really care so much, but in the case of Holly, I want it specifically for its super white color.

How necessary is stabilization for Holly? If it is, is there a way to stabilize it that retains its color?

Otherwise, does anyone have any recommendations for a natural replacement? Camel bone maybe?

While I'm asking about Holly, I also want to ask about the other spectrum - Gabon Ebony. How well does it hold up as a handle wood, and does it do well if stabilized with Cactus Juice?
 
Holly is about the same as Black Walnut - most of can be used just fine without stabilizing. Holly is a good fine grain wood and almost anything is going to mess up that pure white Holly is known for. Greenberg (or Stacy) is the person that needs to chime in on the wood question.

On the Ebony, I can't imagine why it would need stabilizing - it's a hard wood that will sink (or almost sink) in water. Much like Rosewood, you'll find some folks stabilizing it, but never saw the need for it. Perhaps stabilizing Ebony helps prevent the cracks it's famous for?
 
I have had lots of holly stabilized for wa handles. It didn't change color significantly. It sort of looks like white ivory when stabilized.
 
I have a knife in my kitchen with unstabilised holly to see how it holds up.
It turns a beeehhhh kind of grayish colour in use
(I love the colour of holly to)
Ebony should be fine without stabilising
 
I had wondered how well a pure white Holly color would hold up for kitchen use. Even stabilized I would expect it to turn at least a little color over time.

Stacy, you said the stabilized didn't change color significantly, was that fresh from stabilizing or after long time use in kitchen?
 
I was moving some boxes of wood to the new shop yesterday and found the box of holly. The stabilized was a bit more ivory colored than I recalled. It isn't as pure white as unstabilized.

I have only used unstabilized holly for decorative projects. On knives I use stabilized. I made a half dozen or so wa handles with it. As with any light colored wood it will take on some hand staining, but it didn't change color or get gray (as far as I know).

The grinders are all powerless right now, but first chance I get I will sand out a few pieces and post photos .
 
Stabilized holly. It changes color
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Harbeer, that bottom knife sure has a NICE handle - looks like aged ivory. Beautiful for sure. Are those 3 brass dots/pins you peened in for decoration? They sure look nice. I just might steal that idea - With your permission of course.
 
Ken H> said:
Harbeer, that bottom knife sure has a NICE handle - looks like aged ivory. Beautiful for sure. Are those 3 brass dots/pins you peened in for decoration? They sure look nice. I just might steal that idea - With your permission of course.
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Those are silicon bronze dots. I’ve done that on half a dozen blades or so

I meant to/should do it on all and develop a “signature”
 
Perhaps I'm being a little bit picky! :D

I was also thinking of experimenting with antler to get some good white color. I can easily get elk and mule/whitetail deer out here, and perhaps some moose and caribou. I'd be using it for Puukko handles, so I guess reindeer antler is a pretty traditional material, and I believe it gets pretty white. I've never really worked with antler because I was always afraid of cracking if dropped. But if it's just for spacers I'm not so worried.
 
Mobius1 said:
Perhaps I'm being a little bit picky! :D

I was also thinking of experimenting with antler to get some good white color. I can easily get elk and mule/whitetail deer out here, and perhaps some moose and caribou. I'd be using it for Puukko handles, so I guess reindeer antler is a pretty traditional material, and I believe it gets pretty white. I've never really worked with antler because I was always afraid of cracking if dropped. But if it's just for spacers I'm not so worried.
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I've used elk on a couple of thousand knives. It ain't gonna crack if ya drop it. Its pretty dang durable.
 
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