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#1
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stabilizing hardwood scales
This is my first post on here, and i already have a question.
I just aquired some birds eye maple scales and would like to know a bit more about "stabilizing" ? I never built a knife yet but have signed up for a course. thx in advance |
#2
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Welcome aboard!
As for the scales, the best option is to send them out to be professionally stabilized. WSSI is a good company to deal with. Some folks have gotten good results using Minwax wood hardner and a vacuum pump. Take the time to read as much as you can, there's a lot of knowledge here. The search button is your friend. To prove it, try searching for "home wood stabilizing". Glad to have you with us! |
#3
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You don't have to stabilize birds eye maple. It's pretty hard stuff on it's own. Some knifemakers stabilize everything, just to cover all the bases for protection. But the only things that really require stabilizaton are materials that are soft (like spalted maple) or have very irregular grain that can split (like burl). Since this is a first knife, I'd worry about every other aspect before I'd even think of stabilizing.
If you use epoxy for the glue and do a good job of finishing the wood, it should be adequately protected. I like a Danish wood oil, but there are many choices that all work well. If you have any knots in the wood that you are concerned about, a drop of superglue will seep into a knot and bind it in place. (After all, stabilizer is basically acrylic resin - like superglue - in a thin solvent. It soaks in and hardens as the solvent evaporates.) __________________ God bless Texas! Now let's secede!! |
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