Stabilized question?

IdahoCurt · December 05, 2009, 09:53:00 PM

How do you stabilize knife handles?
I'm looking more for info about how is it applied when you read it has been "forced in" or saturated by pressure?
Any info appreciated

kbaknife · December 05, 2009, 09:59:00 PM

A person can stabilize handle material by sending it out and having it done by those companies equipped and experienced in doing so.
My #1 choice is K and G Finishing Supplies, and my #2 choice is Wood Stabilization Specialists, Inc.
(WSSI).

prarieboy · December 06, 2009, 12:17:00 PM

Hey Idaho I have never gotten around to trying this but here is a address that might interest You.
http://www.northcoastknives.com/northcoast_knives_tutorials_hints_tips3.htm

IdahoCurt · December 06, 2009, 02:04:00 PM

Thanks for the info,very interesting process that I knew nothing about.
thanks again all!

IdahoCurt · December 06, 2009, 02:05:00 PM

That canning technique is using vacuum to force the sealer into the wood,Cool

DoubleLung · December 06, 2009, 04:10:00 PM

I've tried the canning technique from that link. These are my problems as it may work great for others.

When I tried this no matter how slowly I'd try to heat the wood hardner in the jar it would end up boiling out over the top. It was more like a combustion bubble than actual boiling liquid. The surface would be nearly flat and then bam a huge reaction would happen and the stuff would boil out. This meant that when it came time to seal up the jar it was only half full. Also on the scales I did (ebony 3/8 thick) it didnt penetrate to the center of them.

TOEJAMMER · December 06, 2009, 05:47:00 PM

To the experts, this may seem an academic question but can you stabilize stag and sheep horn in the same way as wood?

kbaknife · December 06, 2009, 10:03:00 PM

Not much reason to stabilize stag, but it and horn can be done.
Fellas, don't waste your time trying to do this by yourself.
No matter what you do, you will only experience sub-par success with sub-par chemicals.
When you send your stuff to the pros, it gets done correctly and the cost is almost insignificant.
Spend your time making BETTER knives - not figuring out how to do something that will never be as good as you want it.

Lin Rhea · December 07, 2009, 08:23:00 AM

I tend to agree with Karl. No matter what, without a lot of specialized equipment, it's just half way done. I dont use many woods that require stabilizing, prefering oily and dense woods. Some of these can still benefit from an outside sealer. When a wood is so pourous and really needs it, I like it done by the experts too. Lin