Thread: Maple for scales?

I was at Home Depot today buying some door casing trim and I noticed some eye catching maple in the floor trim area. The stuff I grabbed measures 3/8" x 2" and is sold by the linear foot for around $1.90/ft. These pictures don't really do justice. I picked up 4 ft to use for knife handle scales and I might plane a little down for a couple razor handles. Anyone who likes maple might check the finish trim section at their local HD.

Thanks. I bought a big piece of curly maple a while ago - just waiting for it to dry another year maybe. Haven't figured out what to do with it yet.

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Thanks. I bought a big piece of curly maple a while ago - just waiting for it to dry another year maybe. Haven't figured out what to do with it yet.

I thought I might try making a one-piece razor handle from a small piece of this. Low-risk material that will look nice if it works.

cant wait to see what you come up with ...
ive always wanted to try a set in spalted maple ... one of my fav looks in wood ..

I haven't used anything nicely quilted like you have there, but I have used spalted maple quite a bit. It can turn out beautiful with one BIG caveat. It is very, very weak, soft wood. It is after all kind of rotten. But if you stabilize it somehow it can turn out beautiful. I've also had success using a liberal bath of runny CA which soaks right in and gives it a heck of a lot more strength than it has on its own.

This is some spalted scaled turned out (soapstone wedge):



However... back to the thread. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with those pieces!