lundi 23 mars 2015

Picking Wood For Knife Handles

By Zelma Hurley


From the time that the knife as a tool was invented wooden handles have always been chosen. Even in the modern age when there are so many materials that can be used as a handle. Some of them include plastic, ivory and even bone. The only characteristic it has to bear is a firm grip. Some people opt for customized handles since they make them feel special for having something that is unique. Some others want to express their creativity and that is why they customize wood for knife handles by themselves. It can be much fun to work on it as a project.

It is the most used material to make the handles. It usually is also used on many other things such as the wheel of a ship, tools, and instruments among many others. One of the characteristics that make it that popular is the fact that it is organic. Many people are now switching and using organic materials and not inorganic materials like plastic. This is mostly so by the people who are very concerned about saving the world.

There are many varieties that one might use in the making of the handles. There are three main types; they are hardwood, softwoods and plain wood. The hardwood is more preferred since it usually is denser of all the three and the most resistant to penetration. This is where it got its name from, hardwood.

Having a handle that is made from a hardwood is a sign of class and taste for the owner. Hardwood has always been cherished over time even in the olden days. They are mostly used on knives since hardwood usually complement metal very well. Because of the above reason that hardwoods will remain to be a standard.

The handle is not made from just any tree trunk part. The heartwood is the one that is used. The reason is that it is the inner most part of the trunk and it contains substances that are usually resistant to decay. Sapwood is not used since it tends to decay much faster and fluids can easily penetrate it. There usually are some notable differences between sapwood and heartwood. Sapwood is usually lighter in color when compared to the heartwood.

There are some qualities that a good wooden handle should have. One of them is that it should be durable and long lasting. These mean that it should not chip or splinter. It should also be smooth to the hand while at the same time have a fine polish.

One of the down sides of using wood is its organic nature. Just like all organic materials they usually expand when they are subjected to high levels of temperatures. With the expansion and the contraction of it makes the handle loose and it will need replacement.

Some people believe that the darker the wood is the better it is in terms of durability as well as quality. This is not wholly true since some are light in color and better than the dark ones.




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