Jamaican Blue Mahoe, HOW?

robotech

robotech

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I recently purchased a set of Blue Mahoe scales. They are 3/8" thick.
I am wanting to rescale a Damascus Tanto blade and do a work log for the forum.
Mahoe is supposed to be durable, but it just doesn't feel as heavy as I feel it should be.

I would like to use it as is, just oil treat it. But my gut tells me that I need to seal it.
I am also looking at a DIY stabilizing process.
http://www.northcoastknives.com/northcoast_knives_tutorials_hints_tips3.htm
I can't find the hardener locally (small town), but can get it online, no problem.
BUUUT, I don't think I want to make it any darker. Even oil treatment will get it darker than I want. It's great the way it is. Mostly blue with a light spray of green, gun metal gray, and brown grain. It is the dark scales in the pic. I also have the same question about the Flaming Box Elder in the pic.

mahoe.jpg


I have several BLUE Paua Abalone cabs I want to inlay. Like these except there are 4 matched in blue instead of green. I will take real pics, later and edit this post.

paua.JPG


So, what should I do?
 
I have some Blue Mahoe...and it is medium light in weight...doesn't come across as "heavy-duty" as Cocobolo, etc.

But seems ok as-is for a knife handle. I wouldn't mess with it, unless you want to send it to Mike at WSSI for "proper stabilizing" - which will, as you have guessed, likely darken it.



Box Elder really benefits tremendously from stabilizing....the figure really comes out...and it is very easy to dye.

Again, to get it done right, send it to Mike - he'll tell you what effect the dyes will have...and you'll be very pleased with the results.

Box Elder is kinda like curly Maple. Looks great, but is wimpy unstabilized.


Dan
 
O man i love box elder burl from wssi, it is great
 
I will do that with the box elder.
I am going to shape the Blue Mahoe and post back with a pic before I finish it. I would like to see how it sands/polishes out.
thanks guys
 
Could you maybe spare a small piece of the blue mahoe and send it along with the box elder to be stabilized? IIRC most stabilizing places charge by the pound, not the piece. Then you'd know for sure.
 
hmmm....
Hasn't anyone had Mahoe stabilized?
If not, then who knows what it would look like.
Dense woods don't take stabilization well, and Mohoe is SUPPOSED to be dense. But it's not heavy as dense, high resin woods that I know of.
Interesting.
Can anyone post a link for this process?
And I am going to have the Flaming Box Elder stabilized, OR, I may try the Minwax hardener method I linked in the first post.iz
 
I am going to call Monday.
I cut the scales to the length I needed last night with a hand coping saw.
It IS dense! Grain is very close and it's hard stuff.
My confusion about the weight may be because this is a dry, low resin wood.
I think I still may just shape and oil treat it. The grain and colors are silky and shimmer as I turn the scale around.
I think I like it almost as well as a good piece of African Blackwood.
I'll post a work log on that scale project in a week or so. I am working on a small skinner right now.
2nd project, and it shows, LOL.
 
I just got a big block of Blue Mahoe in and am trying to decide how to use it. Did you ever put it on that knife? Stabilize or oil finish or ?

Anyone else have any experience with the wood?
 
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