This afternoon after helping Dad at a auction
I put 2 sets of Knife Slabs in a jar and slowly worked the air out and watched the bubbles come out of the wood like mad
I didn't have a gauge on the line ... but -22 is a decent bet
Slowly let the air back in and then soaked the Slabs in the Wood Hardener for 20+ min as I cleaned up
I will let them dry for a while before I do any more
The 2 sets of slabs are both cut and finish shaped to a design I like
Both sets of Slabs have the holes to attach the slabs to the knife blade pre drilled
One set of Slabs is finish checkered , wood in the smooth areas was sanded and is ready for a finish polish
The other set of Slabs is 90+% finish checkered , I wanted to see if it is better to do the last bit after the wood hardener is in , the smooth areas need just a bit of finish sanding and polishing
Oh , just a word of to the Wise
Hedge Apple or Osage Orange is HARD and dulls a checkering tool like nothing else that I have checkered ..... spent time sharpening the checkering tools
Witch is a REAL PAIN in the Back Side !!!
IMO if I wasn't as stubborn ,stopping and waiting for new checkering cutters from Brownells would have been smart
I read it will suck real fine sand up and it is then in the wood when you cut it with a chainsaw , dulls chains fast ..... I do a lot of sharpening when I cut them up for firewood
Not sure witch of the 4 sets of Slabs I made for a different blade
I need to shape and checker them yeat
Those are out of Black Locus and Honey Locus
That knife will be my every day knife , while not as striking of color
Either one takes stain well , looks great and LASTS
As both are on the list of woods hard as nails when dry
John