MY new R.M/A.W Woodlore some observations
- Thread starter Bagheera
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Hi guys,
I agree I like the new? handle profile of the Woodlore knife, I just wish mine had resisted water contact a lot better.
I almost immediately received an answer to my email that I send to Alan Wood, he is a fine gentleman and after reading what he wrote me I was "enlightened" but I consider his email to me as personal.
Woodlore itself is "investigating" the matter and is doing so already 5 days, I don't know what they want to investigate when they don't have the knife but so be it.
I'm not an impatient kind of guy normally but after my Woodlore stayed dry for exactly a week the wood had shrunk back sofar that I thought "what the heck" what more can happen to the knife that wasn't already written about.
So I taped it up with some very nasty military OD green duct tape, this stuff sticks like nothing else I used is waterproof and a friend of mine in the army used it to repair tears in "cover sheets" used on military trucks, he said where they used the tape it never tore again
So I taped the handle starting on the metal of the blade just after the bevel grind all the way up to the thong hole.
I started again with my 800 grid waterstone for some finishing work having adjusted the bevels as much as I could as it took me already around 3 hours, then after a short session on the 800 grid went over to the 1200 grid and spend another 30-40 minutes (taking my time as I got interrupted by several telephone calls) to bring it to a decent really scary sharp nice satin finish.
Then came the 6000 grid with the Nagura stone, well again 30 minutes later I was ready to get the tape off and I still had perfectly dry handles only sticky from tape glue remnants that took some time to remove but who cares.
I stropped the bevel on my grandfathers razor strop impregnated with some green polishing compound and finished on the opposite side on the untreated leather and now I have what I think is an Scandinavian edge with flat bevels mirror polished and so sharp that just touching the edge digs deep into your flesh, yep it happened to me; it cut through 4 layers of thick cotton + the skin/flesh of my finger when I held it by the blade trying to clean of the duct tape sticky glue remnants
Anyhow I think I will refinish the handle and threat it monthly with some appropriate oil as to Mr Woods advice.
Im looking forward to the results of the investigation from Woodlore in the mean time this armchair adventurer with balls to complain as I was so lovingly called will have a Woodlore knife that will get used, has an edge like I think it was supposed to be and Ill just stick a 3 feet roll of my super duct tape in my backpack for when I want to sharpen the knife
Ill try to post some photos later, right now the cameras batteries are recharging, I need to make diner for me and the kids as the wife is on a visit her mother and afterwards Ill probably retire in my armchair
So a little patience and youll get to see the photos.
Best Scouting wishes,
Bagheera
I agree I like the new? handle profile of the Woodlore knife, I just wish mine had resisted water contact a lot better.
I almost immediately received an answer to my email that I send to Alan Wood, he is a fine gentleman and after reading what he wrote me I was "enlightened" but I consider his email to me as personal.
Woodlore itself is "investigating" the matter and is doing so already 5 days, I don't know what they want to investigate when they don't have the knife but so be it.
I'm not an impatient kind of guy normally but after my Woodlore stayed dry for exactly a week the wood had shrunk back sofar that I thought "what the heck" what more can happen to the knife that wasn't already written about.
So I taped it up with some very nasty military OD green duct tape, this stuff sticks like nothing else I used is waterproof and a friend of mine in the army used it to repair tears in "cover sheets" used on military trucks, he said where they used the tape it never tore again
So I taped the handle starting on the metal of the blade just after the bevel grind all the way up to the thong hole.
I started again with my 800 grid waterstone for some finishing work having adjusted the bevels as much as I could as it took me already around 3 hours, then after a short session on the 800 grid went over to the 1200 grid and spend another 30-40 minutes (taking my time as I got interrupted by several telephone calls) to bring it to a decent really scary sharp nice satin finish.
Then came the 6000 grid with the Nagura stone, well again 30 minutes later I was ready to get the tape off and I still had perfectly dry handles only sticky from tape glue remnants that took some time to remove but who cares.
I stropped the bevel on my grandfathers razor strop impregnated with some green polishing compound and finished on the opposite side on the untreated leather and now I have what I think is an Scandinavian edge with flat bevels mirror polished and so sharp that just touching the edge digs deep into your flesh, yep it happened to me; it cut through 4 layers of thick cotton + the skin/flesh of my finger when I held it by the blade trying to clean of the duct tape sticky glue remnants
Anyhow I think I will refinish the handle and threat it monthly with some appropriate oil as to Mr Woods advice.
Im looking forward to the results of the investigation from Woodlore
in the mean time this armchair adventurer with balls to complain as I was so lovingly called will have a Woodlore knife that will get used, has an edge like I think it was supposed to be and Ill just stick a 3 feet roll of my super duct tape in my backpack for when I want to sharpen the knife Ill try to post some photos later, right now the cameras batteries are recharging, I need to make diner for me and the kids as the wife is on a visit her mother and afterwards Ill probably retire in my armchair
So a little patience and youll get to see the photos.
Best Scouting wishes,
Bagheera
Fraser,
I don't think Mr Wood would mind:
The only treatment I give them is a one hour soak in Danish Oil to give the wood a base and some protection. My own knife is only slightly swollen and has a monthly treatment of a good quality gunstock oil.
It would have been nice if the knives were supplied with a small leaflet, nothing fancy just an A4 printout with some basic care instructions.
Still if you want to go the "waterstone way" I would really duct tape the handle as I described letting absolutely no water reach the handle, it saves a lot of frustration.
Cheers, from the armchair,
Bagheera
I don't think Mr Wood would mind:
The only treatment I give them is a one hour soak in Danish Oil to give the wood a base and some protection. My own knife is only slightly swollen and has a monthly treatment of a good quality gunstock oil.
It would have been nice if the knives were supplied with a small leaflet, nothing fancy just an A4 printout with some basic care instructions.
Still if you want to go the "waterstone way" I would really duct tape the handle as I described letting absolutely no water reach the handle, it saves a lot of frustration.
Cheers, from the armchair,
Bagheera
Hi guys,
As promissed here some photo's of my final sharpening/polishing session and the way I protected the handle wood against moisture:
My waterstones ät work
Detail of the blade bevel almost finished
Detail of the handle taping and blade
Detail of the finished blade
I will make some more of the handle etc. later
Cheers,
Bagheera
As promissed here some photo's of my final sharpening/polishing session and the way I protected the handle wood against moisture:
My waterstones ät work
Detail of the blade bevel almost finished
Detail of the handle taping and blade
Detail of the finished blade
I will make some more of the handle etc. later
Cheers,
Bagheera
I don't know whether it's just the lighting or picture et al, but that looks like no other wood I've ever seen on a Woody. Has the tape residue darkened the wood?
P7,
No the tape did not darken the handle, it's probably the lighting.
But the handle is no high grade birds-eye Maple, not much color and most "birds-eye's have flown
Cheers,
Bagheera
No the tape did not darken the handle, it's probably the lighting.
But the handle is no high grade birds-eye Maple, not much color and most "birds-eye's have flown
Cheers,
Bagheera
Fill a tall thin glass with Danish oil, and let the handle stand in it for two days uninterrupted, I doubt you'll get any more wood problems after that. That's what I do, and I have immersed my Woody's regularly in water, never had a problem.
Daniel,
I'm sorry of all the things that I should have done making photo's of the state of the handle after it was swollen was something I haven't done.
I was so unhappy last weekend as it happened Friday that I wrote a couple of lengthy emails after posting here and on BB to Mr Wood and Mr Mears and then I got hit by a throat infection that kept me unhappy but still working the rest of last week, every evening I just dropped into the bed with some pills.
However when the handle was swollen at it's peak it clearly stuck over the tang of the handle and the "Corby" bolts were recessed so much that you could see a rim of wood and you had no problem catching it with your fingernail.
This was for the first 2" of the handle from the blade side.
I let the handle dry without direct sun contact and after a night I noticed that there was a seperation of the handle from the steel of the handle at the beginning of the handle and I could fit a cigarette paper about 1/4" between handle and grip before it stuck. The handle wood was still clearly swollen as it protuded over the metal tang and Corby bolts.
Last Friday, before I finished sharpening the Woodlore everything was back to normal and you couldn't see, if you didn't know about it, that the grips had been bigger and there has been the "separation" until probably the next time it comes in contact with water, if I don't give it some permanent treatement.
I will try to get some Danish Oil and let it soak for a day in it and hopefully it will be protected against water better then.
I don't know if the Maple (forget about the birds-eye) handle plates are epoxied to the tang or not.
I now think I understand why Mr Mears uses his Reindeer antler handled Woodlore for his TV shows, the epoxied Reindeer antler all polished up is virtually imprevious for water.
Cheers,
Bagheera
I'm sorry of all the things that I should have done making photo's of the state of the handle after it was swollen was something I haven't done.
I was so unhappy last weekend as it happened Friday that I wrote a couple of lengthy emails after posting here and on BB to Mr Wood and Mr Mears and then I got hit by a throat infection that kept me unhappy but still working the rest of last week, every evening I just dropped into the bed with some pills.
However when the handle was swollen at it's peak it clearly stuck over the tang of the handle and the "Corby" bolts were recessed so much that you could see a rim of wood and you had no problem catching it with your fingernail.
This was for the first 2" of the handle from the blade side.
I let the handle dry without direct sun contact and after a night I noticed that there was a seperation of the handle from the steel of the handle at the beginning of the handle and I could fit a cigarette paper about 1/4" between handle and grip before it stuck. The handle wood was still clearly swollen as it protuded over the metal tang and Corby bolts.
Last Friday, before I finished sharpening the Woodlore everything was back to normal and you couldn't see, if you didn't know about it, that the grips had been bigger and there has been the "separation" until probably the next time it comes in contact with water, if I don't give it some permanent treatement.
I will try to get some Danish Oil and let it soak for a day in it and hopefully it will be protected against water better then.
I don't know if the Maple (forget about the birds-eye) handle plates are epoxied to the tang or not.
I now think I understand why Mr Mears uses his Reindeer antler handled Woodlore for his TV shows, the epoxied Reindeer antler all polished up is virtually imprevious for water.
Cheers,
Bagheera
For the record,
Here are 2 of my most used Bushcraft knives, one is a Helle Eggen for which I made a simple strong sheath for baldrick carry or as a neck sheath or from a belt, then there is a knife a dear friend in Texas, USA made for me flat ground D2, simple mesquite wood handle that has withstood everything it was exposed to and is is fitted in a Dwayne Puckett sheath. Both knives have been used heavily and performed perfect.
Then there is the 3rd knife my Woodlore still never used on anything but lower left arm, some fingers and some paper for testing edge, now I'm in need of some Danish Oil to make the handle water resistant so I can use it without the handle swelling I experienced.
Back to my armchair ,
Bagheera
Here are 2 of my most used Bushcraft knives, one is a Helle Eggen for which I made a simple strong sheath for baldrick carry or as a neck sheath or from a belt, then there is a knife a dear friend in Texas, USA made for me flat ground D2, simple mesquite wood handle that has withstood everything it was exposed to and is is fitted in a Dwayne Puckett sheath. Both knives have been used heavily and performed perfect.
Then there is the 3rd knife my Woodlore still never used on anything but lower left arm, some fingers
and some paper for testing edge, now I'm in need of some Danish Oil to make the handle water resistant so I can use it without the handle swelling I experienced.
Back to my armchair
,Bagheera
Bagheera,
I just returned from Norway and read the whole thread. What a bummer with your Woodlore. I don't know if you already have a source for Danish Oil, but I recently got a fresh tin from "Baptist" - the woodwork store in Arnhem.
Just send me a PM and I will send a tin your way.
-Emile
I just returned from Norway and read the whole thread. What a bummer with your Woodlore. I don't know if you already have a source for Danish Oil, but I recently got a fresh tin from "Baptist" - the woodwork store in Arnhem.
Just send me a PM and I will send a tin your way.
-Emile
Danish oil is a mix of Tung nut oil and "other ingredients to increase penetration".
I prefer to use 100% pure Tung oil myself, much more expensive than Danish oil but does a better job (but takes a little longer time) imho.
I prefer to use 100% pure Tung oil myself, much more expensive than Danish oil but does a better job (but takes a little longer time) imho.
Bagheera said:
Well guys after more then a week of investigation I received the second email from Woodlore:
"Hi Piet
We understand that Alan Wood has contacted you directly and we trust that this matter has been satisfactory resolved.
Kindest regards
Jane M"
Well, I have not much to add anymore, I'm still to confused, I for sure won't burden Mr. Wood with my Woodlore knife, it's Woodlore who I think should take responcibility as the seller of the knife.
Cheers,
Bagheera
I received the second email from Woodlore:"Hi Piet
We understand that Alan Wood has contacted you directly and we trust that this matter has been satisfactory resolved.
Kindest regards
Jane M"
Well, I have not much to add anymore, I'm still to confused, I for sure won't burden Mr. Wood with my Woodlore knife, it's Woodlore who I think should take responcibility as the seller of the knife.
Cheers,
Bagheera
If you had bought a dvd player from argos for example, and when sharpenning it, it expanded away from it's tang (you know what I mean 
), then argos would deal with it, not the dvd player manufacturer.
I reckon you should at least get some money back or something for your troubles!
), then argos would deal with it, not the dvd player manufacturer.I reckon you should at least get some money back or something for your troubles!
Just a couple of points - under UK Consumer law (which is where the item was sold...) you have a right to goods of satisfactory quality and goods "fit for purpose". If an item you purchase does not meet these (you decide if your knife does or not.. ) Then you have full recourse with the vendor, not the manufacturer, for a full refund or repair (your choice!)... I'm sure if made aware of these facts Woodlore would help you... Just my humble opinon and all that...
) Then you have full recourse with the vendor, not the manufacturer, for a full refund or repair (your choice!)... I'm sure if made aware of these facts Woodlore would help you... Just my humble opinon and all that...Bagheera said:Well guys after more then a week of investigation
"Hi Piet
We understand that Alan Wood has contacted you directly and we trust that this matter has been satisfactory resolved.
Kindest regards
Jane M"
Well, I have not much to add anymore, I'm still to confused, I for sure won't burden Mr. Wood with my Woodlore knife, it's Woodlore who I think should take responcibility as the seller of the knife.
Cheers,
Bagheera
That being said I recently had a problem with a magnetic cat flap. I spoke to the retailer who then put me on to the manufacturer for a solution. The manufacturer responded and dealt with it. I know this is not the same situation but..... the manufacturer is in the best position to deal with a problem.
I think it is going a bit far to start talking consumer law, but I don't think it hurts to leave it there.
If Bagheera had been wanting to return his knife then he would have sent it to Woodlore and they would have been responsible for refunding him the money. That he has not done so, has stated here that he has taped and sharpened and cleaned the knife further, and now plans to give it an oil treatment makes it sound as if he has accepted the knife as is.
The only thing remaining is whether an impression can be made on Woodlore that they owe him something for the trouble he has had with the handle swelling. This should not have happened, and as the sole retailer for this knife it is their responsibility to make good. That Mr Wood has been in contact is beside the point. The transaction was conducted with Woodlore.
I think that further negotiations are probably best carried out in private.
If Bagheera had been wanting to return his knife then he would have sent it to Woodlore and they would have been responsible for refunding him the money. That he has not done so, has stated here that he has taped and sharpened and cleaned the knife further, and now plans to give it an oil treatment makes it sound as if he has accepted the knife as is.
The only thing remaining is whether an impression can be made on Woodlore that they owe him something for the trouble he has had with the handle swelling. This should not have happened, and as the sole retailer for this knife it is their responsibility to make good. That Mr Wood has been in contact is beside the point. The transaction was conducted with Woodlore.
I think that further negotiations are probably best carried out in private.
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