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vendredi 20 mars 2015

Picking Wood For Knife Handles

By Zelma Hurley


From the invention of wood in the olden days wood has always been used to construct the handles of knives. Over the years man has discovered that there are many other materials that can be used to make a handle. Some of the materials that mostly used today include bones, plastics and ivory. As long as they give you a firm grip you can choose any of the materials to make the handle. Some people even prefer having custom wood for knife handles just for them. So that they feel unique.

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.

It can be grouped into three main categories. The first is the hardwood that is most common and known by many. Then the other type is softwoods and lastly the plain wood. Hardwood got its name from one of its best qualities, which are that it usually is most resistant to penetration and it is denser when compared to the other two types.

Hardwood would be the most preferred one since it shows that the person has class and has fine taste too. Everyone wants to have class and this is why they mostly get wooden handles made of hardwood to show this. Another reason that it is used on a handle is that it complements metal which is an added advantage.

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 several qualities that make wood the best. One of them is that it usually lasts longest when compared to the other materials. This means that you will not need to purchase a new knife every now and then. It is also smooth on the hand since it does not chip.

Being organic there are some undesirable characteristics about the wooden handle. One is that when subjected to high levels of heat it will expand. This constant expansion and contraction will make it loose. To avoid this; the most stable materials are used in place of the less stable ones.

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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