Wood Grain Direction

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waredbear

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
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I would guess that most wood is cut for handles with the grain running the length of the handle. Can you or can you not use grossgrain cut wood for slabs? I just saw some beautiful wood slabs that would make some wonderful knife slabs but they are cut crossgrain. Are some woods okay crossgrain where others are not?

Next question. Is it imperative that the wood be a matched set? How do you mount the matched set? Do you open the matched set and place the blade in between the slabs or do you flip the insides out? Let's say this [ ] is a matched set of slabs. Are they mounted like [l] or like ]l[ in relation to the knife? Does that make sense?

In His Service,
Reid Allen
 
People do both, but with book-matdched scales, I turn the insides out to match the grain and figure on the outside of the handle. You can use cross-grain cut wood, and, frankly, so wood just doesn't have a grain you can 'follow' or 'cut across.' The Thuya burl scales I mounted at the weekend are a good example.

Another part of the question is what exactly do you consider to be 'cross-cut?' If you mean with the grain running perpendicular to the direction of the handle as opposed to parallel, Ironwood is one that can be cross-cut, as can red bay, black palm, and any number of others.
 
I the wood is stabilized, the grain direction is not a problem, even end grain cuts.
A cross-grain cut will be okay, if the wood is plain-sawn, or flat-cut.
 
Agree that crossgrained wood an be used. Most of the knifes I make does not have paralell grain at all. In generall all woods that are not soft can be used cross grained. The more "life" a wood express !!(does it make sence) the less important is the (dominant) direction of grain.

If you are going to split the wood, the wood must be stabilized. If the tang is much shorter than the handle, you should certainly make an evaluation of the woods capacity to resist spliting.

Good luck.
 
It can be difficult to finish end-cuts, but now that I think about it, it could give a kind grip. It might be close to linen micarta in texture. Pics would be much appreciated.
 
I have used purpleheart & pecan , cut crossgrained & stabilized, & had problem with breakage with both . If anyone needs some , let me know !
 
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