Wood for handle rcommndations

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ahlangle

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Sep 16, 2015
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Finishing first knife project and have tried some sections of wood from logs, but they always fall apart.
Where can I find wood for a handle, nothing fancy, for adaily use knife?
Wood recommendations also?
Thanks.
 
There are some that put walrus tusk or the finest stabilized rare wood on their first knife. I used an old hickory hoe handle wrapped with copper wire. Don't use something you can give away easily.
You will want to hang on to that first knife; it will be priceless when you have made a hundred.

Ben @ Greenberg Woods carries some fine handle material. Check out his store.

Have fun, Fred
 
Local cabinet makers will usually let you dig through their scrap bin. Be polite, leave everything as you found it, neat and orderly. Even if they will give scraps to you offer them beer or their favorite beverage anyway.

Look for some of the exotics that don't need to be stabilized.
 
Make sure whatever you go with isn't still green, it will shrink on you. Trust me.
 
You can find wood suitable to use if you look.
This knife was re-handled with "free" wood.
The lighter wood is from an old axe handle that had broken and the other is from a small piece of cherry that I picked up at a yard sale.
The glued together block in the background is the other two pieces from this project.



 
Walnut was a particular favorite of mine, way back. A seller told me of "turning squares" he could sell me at a great price. They were 18" long and 2"X 2" in the rough.
Frank
 
ahlangle said:
Finishing first knife project and have tried some sections of wood from logs, but they always fall apart.
Where can I find wood for a handle, nothing fancy, for adaily use knife?
Wood recommendations also?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Wait, why are they always falling apart? Pics or examples?
 
I have a spare block or two of cocobolo, wenge, walnut and rosewood laying around if you want one. just pay the shipping and i'll send you one for nothing.... hate to have you pay too much if you haven't used these woods before. Once you've played a little with them you'll know better what you want to use next time.
 
You can order blocks of fancy woods from places like Woodcraft. I've also found some subtle yet interesting pieces in pallet wood.
 
Maple is probably the cheapest wood that can be used for an unstabilized handle. Walnut is a good choice as well. Both are hard enough and stable enough, especially with a Danish oil finish.
 
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