Polishing compound on bone handle

Possum

Possum

Joined
Jan 27, 2000
Messages
266
I am a new maker and I like using natural bone for my handle material, but I have a problem with polishing compound getting into the pore of the bone. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to solve this problem. I really like the natural color of the bone and I don't know how to keep it clean a natural colored. Any help would be appreciated.


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Thomas Clegg
 
Oh well, that's an easy one. Just stay away from the buffer.
Get yourself a couple assorted Micromesh abrasives, they go right down to 12000 (twelfthousand) grit, which will leave your bone handles shiney and without any compound in the pores. The downside is that it is a lot of handwork to polish the bone with this stuff. But that's half of the fun of knivemaking, ain't it?

Achim
 
Yea, stay away from the buffer with bone. You might try using FILES, smaller and finer ones. You can do all but the final finishing with files and have a smooth surface ready for the abrasive paper. also I wax the heck out of bone, antler, wood whatever..let it dry over night before you hand buff it off with an old tee shirt. I think wax really helps establish the finish on a new piece and helps a lot to protect finish from loosing that new look from casual handling.
 
I don't use wax but linseed or danish oil for a finish on bone and antler. Re-oil as long as the material soaks up the stuff, let dry (for linseed 1 week, danish oil 1 day) and polish by hand using a cotton or wool towel.

Achim
 
Fox,
What type of wax are you using
biggrin.gif
 
Sure do appreciate all of the help on the problem of compound in the bone pores. Will try to give all of the different ones a try. As I said I am new at this and I haven't had any problems with the dyed bone from Culpepper's, only to natural white bones. Hey does anyone out there that can tell me how to post some knife photos, I would like some opitions on my work?

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Thomas Clegg
 
just my 2 cents,but i would send it off and have it stabilized. i sent some axis deer antler off and had it done, it makes it reakkly easy to get the natural look with a nice shine from buffing it

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Shane ------------------- If you don't have time to do it right the first time, When do you think you'll have time to fix it!!!
 
BobH, i use plain old Johnsons paste wax in the yellow can. This is a readily available, old standard for furniture, floors, etc. If you let it sit over night before buffing off, it gets quite a bit harder than if left just for an hour or so.
 
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