Question. Should buckeye Burl be stabilized

[squigly1965]

Title says it. Should buckeye burl be stabilized. I have some in a block that i would like to use on a knife.

[Ray Rogers]

Yes, absolutely ...

[squigly1965]

dang it

thanks for your time and wisdom

[Doug Lester]

Could someone please block Wakajack?

Doug

[squigly1965]

Who's wakajack?

[jimmontg]

Sadly Chris some of the more interesting pieces of wood are just a bit too soft for the daily wear and tear of using for a knife handle. A burl has hard and soft areas in it and would wear unevenly. Look at how hard a knot in a piece of pine is and that will give you an idea of the qualities of a burl in wood.

[Doug Lester]

Wakajack is someone who keeps posting adds on this site trying to sell illegal documents. He had three adds on 1/25 and he's been on before. The moderators have removed his adds and hopefully blocked his posts.

Doug

[squigly1965]

so then should all burls be stabilized then?


and after having seen one of his posts i do remember that guy. he's been doing it for quite few years. or others like him have

[jimmontg]

Most woods Chris. I have a piece of desert ironwood burl, but it is only big enough for a spacer, now it doesn't need to be stabilized as it is already so hard and I would guess wouldn't accept much of the polymers anyway. It is going on a Damascus knife I made. Had it for years waiting for the right knife. It also has something to do with what the knife is made for. But most burls like maple or walnut should be stabilized as they will have hard and soft spots in them especially if it is going to be the whole handle.

I mostly use exotic hardwoods that are already pretty hard by themselves, but I was gifted some birdseye maple and it is going out for stabilization.

[Andrew Garrett]

Yes. It needs stabilized.

My experience with Buckeye burl is that it is fragile even when stabilized.