I finished a knife a couple of weeks ago and with a cocobolo handle and an aluminum guard. At the time I finished it the transition from the wood to the guard was dead flat, now when I run my finger nail over it I can feel a slight difference in the hight of the wood. Does cocobolo still expand or swell. This is old dried wood. If it does how do you make sure that it doesn't.
Thanks
Steve

Steve, this is the nature of natural materials. You don't even have the option of stabilization with cocobolo, since it seems to be dense and oily enough that it won't accept it.

I would just dress it down flush with the guard (again), but be prepared for it to shrink below the edge of the guard if it sees another significant change in relative humidity.

Steve,

All wood is very hydroscopic, meaning that it absorbs moisture easily. Unfortunately, as the celulose of the wood gains moisture it also gains size. Assuming that your cocobolo has been kiln dried to 7-8% moisture, then the only way to reduce any size changes is to prevent the wood from being exposed to the moisture in the air. You can do this by putting a "hard" finish on the wood rather than a "soft" one. Your hard finishes are shellac, lacquer,enamel etc. which will add a moisture barrier to the wood. The soft finishes are oil & wax which are not as efficient as moisture barriers.

Gary Mulkey