That's a pretty piece of wood, but I think it would depend on what you planned to use it for. A non-checkered thru-bolt stock on a pump,...........sure. A really dainty, thin gripped double with fine checkering,............probably not. If it's that soft it's not going to stand up well to the checkering tool or fine inletting with sharp edges. It's going to get rounded and bruised very quickly. Whether or not an epoxy coating will help I do not know. Never tried it.
If the porosity were at the other end of the blank, I'd be less concerned with it, but it's the softness of the blank that troubles me. That's what Claro is known for, although there are good, hard blanks of Claro. Judging from your description this doesn't appear to be one. I've got aged English blanks on the rack that are so hard and sharp you have to be careful not to cut yourself while handling them.
Last edited by kaveman; 03/05/08 06:46 PM.
