Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: bowtarist on March 22, 2013, 06:56:49 pm

Title: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bowtarist on March 22, 2013, 06:56:49 pm

I usually use wood or bone for knife handles, seal em with beeswax and elbow grease.  I've got an antler with an osage pommel just as smooth as I can get it w/o powertools.  I've always used bee wax or propolis on the wood, don't really seal the bone.  What do you use?  Do I seal the antler too?  It's all PC7nd together and pinned.  Just looking for some options.  Thanks for lookin and a reply! dpg

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bubby on March 22, 2013, 07:06:51 pm

dp take the bees wax and mix with some mineral oil, it will soak in real good, I use it on cups and bowls cause it's food safe, antler I just get a gloss on the buffer

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: Pat B on March 22, 2013, 09:05:09 pm

I used Tru-Oil on the cholla handle knives I posted recently. Look it up to see how they look.

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bowtarist on March 23, 2013, 12:57:56 pm

Thanks for the reply guys!  Bubby, I've used mineral oil too, I may give that a try.  Pat, I'll check em out, I remember when you started that post.  Thanks again, dp

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: CaptainBeaky on March 25, 2013, 08:25:28 am

Errr... Mineral oil ain't food-safe, gents  :o

Beeswax dissolved in turpentine, possibly, or preferably Danish Oil, I would suggest.

Danish Oil will soak into the tiny fissures in the antler then set hard. Once you've polished the surface after 2 or 3 coats of oil,  a coat of Renwax should seal the whole lot in nicely.

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: Pappy on March 25, 2013, 08:36:54 am

I use tru oil also,buff with 000 steel wool in between coats,I use it on wood/horn/antler and bone.  :) with good rusults. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bowtarist on March 25, 2013, 11:18:24 am

Quote from: CaptainBeaky on March 25, 2013, 08:25:28 am

Errr... Mineral oil ain't food-safe, gents.

I thought they sold mineral oil as a laxative?

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bubby on March 25, 2013, 03:58:31 pm

yep, says right on the bottle lubricant laxitave , think I got the how to on wooden bowls to use the bees wax mineral oil mix right out of an old mother earthnews

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bowtarist on March 25, 2013, 05:01:32 pm

Bubby,

Do you heat the wax to liquid then mix with the mineral oil?  What does it turn into a "snow seal" type of mix?  1/2 and 1/2 or what?  experiment?  ??? ;D Thanks bubby, dp

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: bubby on March 25, 2013, 06:50:48 pm

warm the wax up some and then just add a bit at a time till it gets the texture of a loose paste wax, basically experiment with it till it works best for you, my son mixes mine up, if I can get ahold of him i'll see what his mix is

Title: Re: Looking for ideas to seal a knife handle.
Post by: CaptainBeaky on March 31, 2013, 08:11:40 pm

Quote from: bowtarist on March 25, 2013, 11:18:24 am

Quote from: CaptainBeaky on March 25, 2013, 08:25:28 am

Errr... Mineral oil ain't food-safe, gents.

I thought they sold mineral oil as a laxative?

You may be thinking of "liquid paraffin". Strictly a mineral oil as it is an alkane.