Wood scales & Bare metal?

[Bearzerk330]

So I have a finished blade in 1095 Cro-Van. Now I'm moving on to natural hardwood scales. Should I put some sort of barrier in between the full tang and the scales? Is it okay to pair wood with the metal? They'll be held in with locking nuts so it's not going to be a permanent thing.

My first blade I've made. Been doing the occasional reading but mostly been winging it lol.

 

[Horsewright]

Been done that way for a few millennium now. I do:

 

[weo]

Hopefully Ben or other wood experts chime in, but I'd say it probably depends on what species of wood. Some might have some acidic content to them which would accelerate rusting.

 

[Natlek]

So I have a finished blade in 1095 Cro-Van. Now I'm moving on to natural hardwood scales. Should I put some sort of barrier in between the full tang and the scales? Is it okay to pair wood with the metal? They'll be held in with locking nuts so it's not going to be a permanent thing.

My first blade I've made. Been doing the occasional reading but mostly been winging it lol.

I made kitchen knives for all my neighbors in the street. That wasn't enough for them so now I change handles on their old stainless knives........ I hate them They have simple plastic handle fixed with rivets. Every knife I disassembled was full of leftover food under scales ..... and RUST on steel on every knife .They are cheap kitchen knives but it is still stainless steel.
So I suggest you you to protect steel under scale from rust ............

 

[Londinium Armoury]

If there is a sufficient layer of epoxy bonding the steel and wood, no water should be able to touch the tang, On hidden tang knives it's slightly different.

 

[FredyCro]

If you are not going to use epoxy, I would finish the wood on the underside as well, couple of coats of danish oil should suffice.
And, Natlek is right, trapped water will make any steel rust. Either coat the tang with something more permanent (2k lacquers or rust inhibitanting primers) or give it a coat of BLO and service regularly, especially after use in wet conditions.

 

[Ken H>]

Been done that way for a few millennium now. I do:

Dave, do you mean you don't use any type of epoxy or other "glue" between scale and tang? ONLY the pins are holding the scales on? The OP says:

They'll be held in with locking nuts so it's not going to be a permanent thing.

which makes me think no glue (sealant) at all is used between scales and tang with only the pins, corbys, etc is holding the scales on.

 

[Horsewright]

Dave, do you mean you don't use any type of epoxy or other "glue" between scale and tang? ONLY the pins are holding the scales on? The OP says:

which makes me think no glue (sealant) at all is used between scales and tang with only the pins, corbys, etc is holding the scales on.

Oh missed that. No I use glue too. Which seals the metal pretty well I'd say.