knife handle question.

[alec bailey]

Right now I'm making a knife out of a old sawblade. I've got the cut out and everything pretty much done. Now I just need to know which wood makes the best. I have plenty of elm and mesquite. Which do y'all prefer?

[Bjankowski]

You can use a lot of wood however; if you want the wood to last a long time it's best to stabilize the wood or it will swell with moisture. If you don't know how to stabilize wood, I'm sure youtube has a video on how to do it. You can seal it with varnish or lacquer finishes, however water and moisture are good about penetrating the handle.
Are you doing a hidden tang or through tang?
I have my contact info in my homepage on my website; feel free to call me, I can walk you through it.

[alec bailey]

i found this knife maker on youtube and his knifes look really good. so im trying to recreat the second one on this page. i know mine wont look quite this good but im trying to get it similar. http://www.neemantools.com/en/products/wildlife-knives

[Bjankowski]

i found this knife maker on youtube and his knifes look really good. so im trying to recreat the second one on this page. i know mine wont look quite this good but im trying to get it similar. http://www.neemantools.com/en/products/wildlife-knives

That's a pretty easy blade to make, as far as the wood I love mesquite. You can harden the wood with some minwax wood hardner, but you need to bring it up to a boil (be careful doing it, best to watch a video on youtube) and put the wood in it a mason jar or something with a lid. The minwax will get absorbed in the wood in a few days and then it will last a life time.

[alec bailey]

That's a pretty easy blade to make, as far as the wood I love mesquite. You can harden the wood with some minwax wood hardner, but you need to bring it up to a boil (be careful doing it, best to watch a video on youtube) and put the wood in it a mason jar or something with a lid. The minwax will get absorbed in the wood in a few days and then it will last a life time.

Thanks a lot this really helps because I've been having a lot of handles cracking. I've got one other question. Were would I get some brass? Like he has at the beginning of his handle?

[Leon County Slayer]

You can find the brass at any knife supply shop, you can try Jantz supply or Texas knifemakers supply. You can buy it in barstock form or semi-rounded with blade hole cut to trim....good luck

[Jason Fry]

Mesquite is one of my favorite handle woods. Elm is often not all that interesting in terms of color and grain. If your mesquite is dry, you should be good to go. Brass bar stock is best from the knife supply places, but brass pin stock in 1/8 or 3/16 can be had at Lowe's.

These three knives have some good burly mesquite.

[Slewfoot]

mesquite

Right now I'm making a knife out of a old sawblade. I've got the cut out and everything pretty much done. Now I just need to know which wood makes the best. I have plenty of elm and mesquite. Which do y'all prefer?

I have made lots of knives in the past and I prefer to use mesquite wood. One it is pretty and strong and works up real well. I also have a lot of raw materials from South Texas. Chose a piece that has character in the grain, and I use True Oil to finish. I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Bjankowski]

I have made lots of knives in the past and I prefer to use mesquite wood. One it is pretty and strong and works up real well. I also have a lot of raw materials from South Texas. Chose a piece that has character in the grain, and I use True Oil to finish. I don't think you will be disappointed.

X2 on the Tru Gun Oil; it's cheap and found at Academy. I even use it on the Micarta Scales I make. It' pretty tough, best to put on several coats and use fine steel wool between coats. I do five.

[alec bailey]

Thanks for all the advice. Ive decide to go with mesquite ill post a pic once I finished it.

[alec bailey]

ive gotten it all sanded down and looking kinda good.

[Jason Fry]

That's some light looking mesquite. Is that most of a round branch trimmed to shape? Looks good, BTW.

[alec bailey]

That's some light looking mesquite. Is that most of a round branch trimmed to shape? Looks good, BTW.

What I did was cut down a young healthy and straight tree and used a belt sander and a file to get it into shape. It has a really good grip to it. And has no cracks!

[Jason Fry]

Careful, if you cut it green, it will crack later. Not sure what the cure is. I always starte with aged or dead wood. Do some googling, maybe the woodworking folks have a trick to keep wood from cracking. I know if you're cutting green logs, you can paint the ends. Don't know if there's a method for smaller pieces.

[Bjankowski]

Careful, if you cut it green, it will crack later. Not sure what the cure is. I always starte with aged or dead wood. Do some googling, maybe the woodworking folks have a trick to keep wood from cracking. I know if you're cutting green logs, you can paint the ends. Don't know if there's a method for smaller pieces.

X.. I agree 100%. I've notice from using mesquite that it has to colors, one is the light like you have and the other is a dark color. You want to use the darker color it's harder, the light color is soft.

You sure don't want to go through all that time and effort only to have the handle crack when it dries.