Wood movement question

N

navasky

Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
74
Maybe some of you smart people can help me figure this out, I have a hunch but am second guessing myself. For flat-sawn wood glued to a full tang, which is less likely to delaminate over time: the growth rings curving inwards towards the tang like this ((|)) or outwards from it like this ))|(( ? This is assuming an oval cross section and no fasteners.
 
The no fasteners condition is to simplify the problem, not because I necessarily think it's a great way to go.
 
It's going to depend on the moisture of the wood, is it gaining or losing moisture. A growth ring has a denser section and a less dense section, and they expand/contract differently as moisture levels change
If you get a stable type of wood and quarter saw it, then run the growth rings as parallel to the tang as possible you'll get the most success. That will put most of the movement perpendicular to the tang

Or just do a hidden tang
 
When I worked in construction and we made wood floors, I was told to always select ((I)). In floor scenario it would be ((I, just horizontal. Reasoning behind this is all boards tend to warp in already existing cup direction, meaning ( wants to become C. So, in ((I)) case, with wood movement there will be forces to lift middle, where is relatively big area to spread that force. In scenario ))I(( all movement force lift most force at the edges and crack is more likely. In floor analogy if we selected wood with ))I, then after few years all boards would be with lifted edges. Of course, three layer laminates eliminates all that. But in knife handle scenario I would use ((I)). Because it will stay relatively the same, but ))I(( tends to become ꓛ)I(C
 
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