A Kampilan blade - from where?

[Battara]

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

My progress so far:
but I broke the guard when I chiseled too aggressively...


In any case this is poplar wood, so not extremely strong nor suitable for the kampilan I think, but good practice for me anyhow... What would the "appropriate" wood be? Kamagong? Amboyna? Ebony?

Those harder woods are probably expensive and even harder to carve...

Thoughts?

Yes. I would use either mahogany as Barry suggested, or walnut, or padauk wood (a cousin to the narra tree in the Philippines and Indonesia and identical to the inner part of that tree). All of these are harder woods. I use these all the time and am carving some scabbards now out of walnut and padauk wood. Here is a link to info on padauk wood:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterocarpus

Macassar ebony is kamagong, but to get a completely dark piece is difficult, expensive, and even harder than all the rest. I would suggest walnut or padauk - neither are endangered (padauk in the US is from Africa, narra from Southeast Asia is endangered at present).

[KuKulzA28]

Sounds good, time for me to go shopping for pieces of padauk...

In the meantime, continuing practice on the poplar wood "dummy" handle...

[Nirghosa]

Surprisingly I have a personal kampilan trainer I am making the handle from Padauk as well. It can be a little challenging but near as difficult as some other hardwoods.
Be sure to use a respirator or at least a dust mask. I've been told the Padauk dust is very carcinogenic.
It take a glorious color with just a simple poly seal.

http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=DSC04818.jpg

[Battara]

Originally Posted by Nirghosa

Surprisingly I have a personal kampilan trainer I am making the handle from Padauk as well. It can be a little challenging but near as difficult as some other hardwoods.
Be sure to use a respirator or at least a dust mask. I've been told the Padauk dust is very carcinogenic.
It take a glorious color with just a simple poly seal.

http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=DSC04818.jpg

Very true - it can puncture the avioli of the lungs so DON'T BREATH THE PADAUK DUST!

And yes a little difficult to carve, but much easier than kamagong (macassar ebony) or ebony.

[KuKulzA28]

Originally Posted by Nirghosa

It take a glorious color with just a simple poly seal.

http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=DSC04818.jpg

That does look nice, good work!

Originally Posted by Battara

Very true - it can puncture the avioli of the lungs so DON'T BREATH THE PADAUK DUST!

I will remember than advice! Sounds like cocobolo
I assume the same precautions as cocobolo... face-mask, ventilation, etc.

[Nirghosa]

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

That does look nice, good work!



Thanks!!

I will remember than advice! Sounds like cocobolo
I assume the same precautions as cocobolo... face-mask, ventilation, etc.

Personally, to me cocobolo is a little heavier and could throw off the balance but perhaps if you could get identical pieces you would be able to judge yourself. Sometimes the woods speak to you. I would often go to the local shop and pick up differing pieces to get a feel. Could sometimes take way too long
In general the denser the wood, the heavier it is of course
When doing my personal aluminum trainers I prefer to get the balance just right.
Purpleheart is nice as is Narra.
Dark Walnut has a nice balance of weight, density and yet is workable.
http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/y...t=DSC06778.jpg

[Battara]

I use padauk because it looks like the inner part of the narra tree (again a part of the narra tree family) and walnut because it looks like the outer part of the narra tree.

[Nirghosa]

Originally Posted by Battara

I use padauk because it looks like the inner part of the narra tree (again a part of the narra tree family) and walnut because it looks like the outer part of the narra tree.

Interesting, hadn't looked at it that way.
Do you use a stain on the Padauk (to affect the color) or just a seal?