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Stabilized & Natural Wood for Custom
Knife Makers
Unusual Burl, Spalted and
Figured Woods from Around the World. |
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Information
about stabilized woods
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What is stabilized wood?
Different industries will have different definitions of what
is stabilized wood.
For carpentry and general construction stabilized wood can be
wood that is fully dried and stable. No longer prone to movement
caused by green wood drying. Hence stabilized.
Furniture makers may call wood that has been dried and seasoned
in climate controlled conditions stabilized.
In woodturning they treat green wood with a chemical that will
limit cracking as the green wood dries. The wood is still green
and wet. This enables them to turn the wood easily, but they
still have to deal with the drying of the wood.
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Wood that is to be used for knife
handle material is stabilized in it's own unique way.
The purpose of stabilizing wood for use as knife handle materials
is to make the wood more durable and less prone to cracking or
moving.
Dry wood to be stabilized is placed in a chamber under a vacuum.
The stabilizing agent (chemicals) are released into the chamber
with the wood. The wood and chemicals undergo a period of time
under vacuum followed by a time under high pressure. After the
wood has been completely penetrated or infused with the chemicals
the wood is then heat cured in ovens. This changes the liquid
stabilizing agent into a solid. When properly done the chemicals
penetrate the wood grain and fibers and turn into a solid giving
the wood additional weight and hardness for increased durability.
This helps to limit or eliminate warping, cracking and other
problems that can occur with wood when used under extreme conditions.
Stabilized wood is usually easier to work with and finish than
natural wood because some open pores and voids become filled
and the wood now has a more evenly distributed hardness.
All
of our stabilized woods have been professionally stabilized by
K&G (Knife & Gun Finishing Supply in Arizona). They are
one of the old timers when it comes to stabilizing wood specifically
for use on knives and guns.
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How do you finish stabilized wood?
Good results can be had with most stabilized woods by sanding
to about 600 grit followed by a light buffing. A much better
finish can be attained by sanding the wood to 1000+ grit. Then
apply a light coat of tung or danish oil. After that dries apply
a coat of paste wax and hand buff with an old towel. This method
tends to give more depth and flash to figured woods. Be careful
when power buffing woods. Some woods are prone to smearing or
the wood taking on a muddy look when power buffed. If this occurs
you will need to re-sand your handle to remove the smeared or
muddy surface.
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Visit
the Knife Handle Materials Webstore
The woods we feature in our
web store were cut special for custom knife makers who don't
want to use plain looking knife handle materials. Every piece
listed in our webstore is photographed individually with large
photos showing both sides of each piece so you can pick out the
pieces you like best. Our wood comes with a No Questions Asked,
Money Back Guarantee.
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Curly
Koa |
Spalted Maple Burl |
Figured Walnut |
Redwood Burl |
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Burl Source is
a division of It's a Burl in Kerby Oregon ......
541-592-5071 or itsaburl@hotmail.com |