Cocobolo Shrinkage
- Thread starter Walt2
- Start date
EdCaffreyMS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
Cocobolo is one of the most stable woods around. The only ways I can think that it might shrink are if the wood was installed "green", or somebody did something they shouldn't have, like put it in a dishwasher, soaked it in water, or left it somewhere in high heat.
The very first blade I ever forged has Cocobolo scales on it.....nothing but lightly buffed and waxed for a finish. I used that knife for about 3 years, and it's been tucked away in a drawer for over 20 years now, and the handle fits as good as the day it was installed.
If you have a knife with scales that are shrinking, then something doesn't smell right.....somebody messed up some where along the way.
The very first blade I ever forged has Cocobolo scales on it.....nothing but lightly buffed and waxed for a finish. I used that knife for about 3 years, and it's been tucked away in a drawer for over 20 years now, and the handle fits as good as the day it was installed.
If you have a knife with scales that are shrinking, then something doesn't smell right.....somebody messed up some where along the way.
Steve Randall
Well-Known Member
maybe you got it to hot when you were finishing. I had a cocobola handle shrink very little but you could just feel the pins after a few weeks. I went back and re finished and no problem . Steve
HHH Knives
Super Moderator
Im no pro, Yet want to add a post here..
I totally agree with Ed that the wood was green or not cured out all the way.. Cocobolo by its nature is one of the most stable woods you could use on a knife.. Yet if its not fully cured and acclimated to your area.. it will cause you troubles.. And because its so dense it takes much longer to cure out..
I had done the same thing happen with some awesome rosewood a few years back. Rosewood is in the same species as cocobolo and has very similar characteristics. Anyways.. Made the knife and was ecstatic with the way it looked and felt! 3 days later I pulled it out to shoot pics and it had shrunk and even cracked at the pin from the movement.. I was Bummed to say the least! But I learned..
Chalk it up as a lesson learned.. Randy
I totally agree with Ed that the wood was green or not cured out all the way.. Cocobolo by its nature is one of the most stable woods you could use on a knife.. Yet if its not fully cured and acclimated to your area.. it will cause you troubles.. And because its so dense it takes much longer to cure out..
I had done the same thing happen with some awesome rosewood a few years back. Rosewood is in the same species as cocobolo and has very similar characteristics. Anyways.. Made the knife and was ecstatic with the way it looked and felt! 3 days later I pulled it out to shoot pics and it had shrunk and even cracked at the pin from the movement.. I was Bummed to say the least! But I learned..
Chalk it up as a lesson learned.. Randy