Homemade machette need help on deciding wood for handle
so i'm working on a homemade machette and i need some choices on some awesome looking, yet strong wood to make the handles out of what do you guys suggest?? thanks
ironwood, or just about anything you like the looks of if it's stabilized.
Ash (cheap, strong, impact resistant, built-in "grippiness")
i wasn't really wanting to buy it i was really just looking to go out in the woods and get it myself
And you planned to let it dry for a while, and then cut it to dimensions and let it dry some more.... Why not just go spend a couple dollars for something that isn't going to be more trouble than it's worth?
Personally, if it's a machete that's going to see some serious use I'd spring for some 3/8" micarta or G10 and corby bolts.
Originally Posted By Remyrw:
And you planned to let it dry for a while, and then cut it to dimensions and let it dry some more.... Why not just go spend a couple dollars for something that isn't going to be more trouble than it's worth?
Personally, if it's a machete that's going to see some serious use I'd spring for some 3/8" micarta or G10 and corby bolts.
I've actually got one I'm needing to re-handle. The next time I get an old pair of jeans or something, I'm going to make some micarta and use that for handle material. I've done this with a cheap knife a couple of times and just epoxied it onto the blade instead of bolts, it's held up so far. As far as grip is concerned though, I don't think you can beat a decent micarta.
I never understood the idea of making it yourself in small amounts, unless going for a custom design, but to each their own. I just never saw the point of it when a piece of commercial micarta is so inexpensive, but for me the project is the knife, not the micarta or handle specifically. I'd probably feel differently if I was focused on the one aspect of the piece.
My personal favorite is black linen, fine sanded and washed to restore the color from the sanding dust, but not buffed up. Kind of that deep grey satin look and feel. I almost never get to do it for a customer, but when I start doing more knives at once I may do a couple from each batch with that finish if there are extra blades after pre-order stuff. The only problem with doing that is that I'll probably have a hard time not keeping one of each pattern. lol
