MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > The Newbies Arena

The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-13-2013, 10:17 AM
Kevster Kevster is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Plano Texas
Posts: 498
Black Walnut for knife handles?

A friend gave me some slabs of black walnut, and I'm wondering if anyone has used it for handle material and if so how did you like it?

I'm sure it needs to be stabalized,

Here's some pics of it.







Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-13-2013, 10:30 AM
ericbrinkerhoff's Avatar
ericbrinkerhoff ericbrinkerhoff is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: P.O.B.20 East Dover,VT 05341
Posts: 131
Black walnut is good stuff ! It is a pretty stable wood , thats why it is often seen on gun stocks , guitar bodies etc...
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-13-2013, 11:25 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
I always have mine stabilized but as Eric said, it's pretty stable as it is. It's much easier to finish if you have it stabilized though. Just cut some of it up and send it to K&G.

It's great that folks give you stuff for handles, I've certainly received my share over the years. But, while much of it might make a perfectly serviceable handle not all of it is really worthy of a high quality handmade knife. For instance, all of that walnut will make good, solid handles but only the most highly figured sections will really set off a finely made custom knife. Those antler tines are suitable for simple period knives for the Renaissance Fair but they lack the size, small pith, color, and surface texture to get much interest on a high end knife.

I don't know what your plans are for these materials and I know free stuff is always appreciated. I'm just trying to get you to look at free materials with a more critical eye so that you don't end up with a garage full of stuff that you won't have any real use for...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-13-2013, 01:21 PM
samuraistuart samuraistuart is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: San Antonio Texas
Posts: 163
Walnut has to be one of my favorite handle materials, and by far my favorite wood. American Black, Curly Claro, or Bastogne, it's ALL good! As was already mentioned, the walnut does not really need to be stabilized, as it is a dense hard wood with some natural oils. If you want to have them stabilized, go for it, but it's not necessary at all. If you haven't tried this product yet, go get it! It's called TruOil by Birchwood Casey. Great stuff. I finished a California Claro Walnut stock with this stuff, and it is awesome. I use it on all of my knife scales. It seals the wood without a coating like varnish does. You can stain before applying TruOil, if you want. Once you have your scales sanded smooth and stained, apply TruOil with a paper towel and then wipe off excess. A trick to REALLY seal the wood, as I learned from a custom gunsmith.....with the wood coated in TruOil, take 400 grit wet/dry paper (or as fine as you would like to go), and sand the oil INTO the wood. This causes a slurry to form (like Japanese water stones) and this slurry fills in the pores of the wood. Oil, sand, wipe clean. Oil, sand, wipe clean. Just a few cycles of this, and you'll have a beautiful piece of walnut sealed tight. You can use 0000 steel wool on the final coat for a matt finish, or buff it using wood wax for a more glossy look. Hand rubbed oil finishes are hard to beat!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-13-2013, 04:38 PM
Gary Mulkey's Avatar
Gary Mulkey Gary Mulkey is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Branson, Mo
Posts: 1,129
I use quite a bit of black walnut and I don't bother to have it stabilized. As has been said, it doesn't swell or shrink much. I use a gun stock finish which is boiled linseed oil & urethane
(6-8 coats).

You have some nice crotch wood there. You will especially like it as it is quite a bit harder and much more attractive than the rest of the log. (Same it for something special.)

Have fun.

Gary


__________________
Gary
ABS,CKCA, ABKA,KGA
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-13-2013, 05:14 PM
Kevster Kevster is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Plano Texas
Posts: 498
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Rogers View Post
I always have mine stabilized but as Eric said, it's pretty stable as it is. It's much easier to finish if you have it stabilized though. Just cut some of it up and send it to K&G.

It's great that folks give you stuff for handles, I've certainly received my share over the years. But, while much of it might make a perfectly serviceable handle not all of it is really worthy of a high quality handmade knife. For instance, all of that walnut will make good, solid handles but only the most highly figured sections will really set off a finely made custom knife. Those antler tines are suitable for simple period knives for the Renaissance Fair but they lack the size, small pith, color, and surface texture to get much interest on a high end knife.

I don't know what your plans are for these materials and I know free stuff is always appreciated. I'm just trying to get you to look at free materials with a more critical eye so that you don't end up with a garage full of stuff that you won't have any real use for...
Yeah those are axis horns, from here in Texas, they aren't real big but a buddy of mine gave them to me, he said he can get all I want because they shed up to twice a year. There are only a couple that I could use on a hidden tang knife. I guess the rest I'll give to a pen maker.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-15-2013, 09:47 PM
GHEzell's Avatar
GHEzell GHEzell is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 591
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevster View Post
Yeah those are axis horns, from here in Texas, they aren't real big but a buddy of mine gave them to me, he said he can get all I want because they shed up to twice a year. There are only a couple that I could use on a hidden tang knife. I guess the rest I'll give to a pen maker.
Axis antler tends to be very solid, if lacking a bit in character.... I've been searching for a good (i.e, inexpensive) source for it.


__________________
A good friend told me one time about forging "What is there not to like, you get to break all the rules you were told as a kid, don't play with that it is sharp, don't play with fire, and don't beat on that"
Wade Holloway


See some of my work.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-15-2014, 05:21 PM
Turkish Walnut's Avatar
Turkish Walnut Turkish Walnut is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Istanbul / Turkey
Posts: 18
You will enjoy about the result without question.


__________________

The Best Walnut Wood Source
Visit our web store Turkishwalnut.Net
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
antler, awesome, bee, california, custom, custom knife, fixed blade, handle, handmade, hidden, japanese, knife, knife scales, knives, make, material, materials, scales, simple, steel, surface, wax, wood


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Equaliser Firestorm with black walnut. Jason Cutter Knives For Sale - Custom 2 01-29-2004 03:58 PM
Black Walnut Burl! KandS_KNIVES The Supply Center 13 10-01-2002 10:01 PM
Black Walnut Burl? KandS_KNIVES General ::: Items and Bargains 2 09-19-2002 03:35 PM
black walnut edmfs The Newbies Arena 4 09-08-2002 11:09 AM
Walnut burl for handles - treatment question JossDelage Fit & Finish 2 02-12-2002 06:02 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:07 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved