SPalted Beech and Snakewood for Scales...?

[Stevie777]

Hi,
Thinking of using either Spalted Beech or Snakewood to make a set of scales for a couple of knives.

The Spalted Beech is 30x30 minimum so after the cut i should have two scales @ around 14 mm each, is this plenty to work with? Also, what is this material like to work with...ie, is it ok for knife scales, too soft maybe?..?

Spalted Beech.

And, Snakewood (Brosimum guianense)..This comes in around 12mm max per scale.

The wood has been air-dried for almost two years - the first 18 months as solid logs, since Jan 2015 as half logs and was re-sawn into billets and scale sets in March 2015.

"Further drying and stabilization in a controlled workshop environment before use is advised".

Question is, how long and how do i dry and stabilize it...or should i leave that to the experts and move on to something that's been drying longer...I like this wood but it is rather pricey @£20 a set...maybe i'm just comparing other less exotic woods when pricing mind you.?

As i said, I like Both Woods, i'm sure once oiled they will look fantastic...So anyone like to add some input for a novice to get started,..Both these knives will be Christmas gifts for my Sons...No Pressure then..


Cheers..S

 

[bushwacker bob]

the beech is too soft. It will need stabilising first.

 

[Stevie777]

the beech is too soft. It will need stabilising first.

OK, Cheers,
Pity, as i liked the look of it..Maybe have to look at other option. Personally i would just use ash, nothing fancy, just a good reliable wood. any suggestions on other wood choices..?
I dont want to be spending fortunes as this will be my first attempt, I will be sanding and shaping by Hand. ?

 

[Goatboy]

That is a pity as that spalted beech is a lovely looking piece of timber. The snakewood is nice too. What sort of knives are you making? It may help with the choice of wood. If it was a puko type say you may be inclined towards something like curly birch.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[Stew]

Snakewood is nice but be cautious of spontaneous cracks. It has a tendencey to just move one day, months or years down the line and have little cracks. I now wouldn't use it in big sections or on hard use knives personally. (at least not on knives for other people)

 

[Stevie777]

That is a pity as that spalted beech is a lovely looking piece of timber. The snakewood is nice too. What sort of knives are you making? It may help with the choice of wood. If it was a puko type say you may be inclined towards something like curly birch.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

I'm putting handles on a couple of Bushcraft Woody Blades by our very own Mark Hill..HillBill..I just remembered i know a Luthier who might have some Exotic woods laying around...He's Defo got some Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood and Ebony...I'll give him a shout and see what off cuts he has...I might just have solved my problem..

 

[Goatboy]

Excellent, love it when a plan comes together.

Sent via smoke-signal from a woodland in Scotland.

 

[bushwacker bob]

get the beech stabilised, It looks okay.

 

[Macaroon]

I'd be tempted to use the Beech on one of them and give it a couple of coats of superglue when finished. I've seen this be very successful, and at the very worst you might have to re-handle it sometime down the road.

 

[Stevie777]

get the beech stabilised, It looks okay.

Yeah, it does look rather nice...How would i stabilise it...I need to get a start on the handles well before christmas, then i have sheaths to make also...so how long to stabilise..?

 

[Stevie777]

I'd be tempted to use the Beech on one of them and give it a couple of coats of superglue when finished. I've seen this be very successful, and at the very worst you might have to re-handle it sometime down the road.

What i dont want is a shiny glossy handle...I would prefer just a natural wood feel on the handle for safety as much as anything...Sweat and glossy handles can = Slippage.

 

[Stevie777]

I'll Speak with my mate in the next week or so, he might have some Birdseye Maple or a nice flame Maple tucked away in a corner of the workshop...I would settle for Mahogany or Ebony if he has some off cuts that are no use to him.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Wood hardner works quite well, I made a vacuum flask with the reverse blower on a vacuum cleaner on top of a tupperware container as it sucks the air out and the hardener in.