I've seen some beautiful grips made from American Holly. I have two large holly trees on my hunting lease that have just been pushed over by the timber company. Before they push it up in a pile and burn it. I have time and permission this weekend to cut a few sections out of it and salvage it. Is it worth doing? How best to dry it for making pistol, revolver and knife grips/scales? Reckon how long it would take to dry absent a kiln? I'm sure only the pure white heart wood would be useful. Ideas?
American Holly Wood ( not Hollyweird)
- Thread starter jgh4445
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Stop by Home Depot or any place that sells paint. They all usually have cans of paint that were mixed wrong that they sell cheap. Buy some very cheap throw-away brushes.
Cut your 'logs' and paint the ends THICKLY as soon as they are dry enough for the paint to stick. You do this so they dry slowly and split less. Leave the bark as intact as possible, and paint any skinned spots.
If you want to fool with it, parafin is better.
Dry horizontally under cover. Avoid direct sunlight.
I'm not familiar with holly.
Walnut is supposed to air dry like I described for 7 years to be considered gunstock material. You won't need that long, but I can't time it for you.
And, yes, I have dried a few logs.
Cut your 'logs' and paint the ends THICKLY as soon as they are dry enough for the paint to stick. You do this so they dry slowly and split less. Leave the bark as intact as possible, and paint any skinned spots.
If you want to fool with it, parafin is better.
Dry horizontally under cover. Avoid direct sunlight.
I'm not familiar with holly.
Walnut is supposed to air dry like I described for 7 years to be considered gunstock material. You won't need that long, but I can't time it for you.
And, yes, I have dried a few logs.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
American holly has some value. Woodcraft is selling a 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 15" for $36.99. It is sometimes difficult to work with, hence the high cost of grips made out of it. Believe it or not, I'm in the research stage on steam bending a piece for a new cane/walking stick. I hate boring old man looking canes.
+1 on everything Lee said.
+1 on everything Lee said.
Thanks guys. I think I have a can of paint or two and I'll be sure and put a thick coat or two on the pieces I get. I'm familiar with steam bending. Its how I make the stems for the bow and stern of my canoes. I'm told Holly doesn't like to be steam bent.
kozmic
Member
I call "dibs" on a set of N frame grips!
Of course in a 6 or 7 years you'll need to remind my sorry ol' butt.
Of course in a 6 or 7 years you'll need to remind my sorry ol' butt.
jlrhiner
US Veteran
I was afraid of that. I think I'm going to go ahead and screw up one piece. If it works, great. If not, anybody got a warthog tusk?
cwo4uscgret
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Holly is some very nice wood for knifemaking; mainly because its light, almost white color is a big contrast compared to other woods. I have a Tanto made with Devin Thomas ladder pattern damascus, copper, buffalo horn, and handled and sheathed in holly wood. A very elegant knife:
I'd plank the wood no more then an 1" thick and let it air dry....
I'd plank the wood no more then an 1" thick and let it air dry....
