Anyone work with African Blackwood?

[Thunderbolt]

As someone very familiar with knives and their applications, let me add this.

If you are pushing so hard that the scales break or the glue gives way then either your knife isn't sharp enough or you have the wrong knife for the job. It's sort of like complaining that you broke your finishing hammer while driving framing nails. Right tool, right job.

Right you are. The sgian would be a poor choice for many applications. However, it many time may be the only knife I have available, so it needs to be up to the task. I can't carry my Benchmade all the time, but it will often be found clipped to my kilt inside the waistband. I usually don't carry a sgian for this reason.

Unlike the kilt, a sgian isn't a perfect tool. I suspect that's why a dirk was carried as well. But I don't carry a dirk. If I did, I'd just strap on my Strider.

Being somewhat familiar with safety measures for artists, I'd suggest that you take precautions to minimize your contact with the dust generated when sawing or sanding the Blackwood. I'm not sure whether Blackwood is one of the types of wood that can trigger toxic reactions when it comes in contact with the human body (specifically the respiratory system!) but it's better to be safe than sorry. While searching for an Irish Flute, I had to pass on those made of Cocus and Rosewood because of the articles that I read about the potential for some nasty skin reactions that some people get from contact with the oils in those woods. Inhaling the dust produced by some of these woods can be absolutely devastating.

Given your background as a machinist, I'd bet that you probably already know to be careful but I figgered that I should mention it.

Best

AA

Yeah. Working on walnut turns my hands a deep purple color that will NOT wash off. I haven't had much problems with AB but I wear a mask anyway.

T.