Stag handle recycle

[Ridgegrass]

I bought this roached out carving set to recycle the nice old stag. The custom hunter below was made for me by Guild Member,Frank McGowan about 20 years ago from another old carving set. At that time I spent many hours trying to extract the tang from the handle. Whatever the "Cutlers' Cement" those old guys used was really hard to deal with. Wonder if anyone has a tip or an easier method of extracting those tangs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I may just slab them for pocket knife handles but I'd like to have them whole if I could. J.O.

[orvet]

Usually, you can get most glues to fail if you freeze the knife for several days. That method doesn't work as well with Cutler's cement.

The fastest method I have found for getting the cutlers cement to release a fork or steel is to clamp the end of the steel in a vise and heat the the steel about 4-5" in front of the handle. When it gets warm and you start to see smoke coming out of the joint where the steel is glued into the stag handle, you will know that the process is starting to work, but only at the front end. You have to get enough heat in there that it travels down the hidden tang and loosens the cement at the end of the tang.
The tricky part is not getting the stag hot enough to burn. Twist the handle as you heat it and eventually you will be able to twist and pull the stag handle off the end of the steel.
I said this is the fastest way I have found, but it is by no means a quick process. It can take up to an hour sometimes. The old cutlers cement was made with brick dust, pitch and tallow, if I recall correctly. You can smell the pitch when it gets hot. If you get really lucky, the pitch may begin to expand and push the handle off of the tang, but usually you have to do a lot of twisting. I usually use gloves that give me a good grip in order to twist the handle once the glue is hot. Be sure to heat it slowly so the steel does not get so hot that it burns the stag.

It's a trial and error process. I have done a number of these and few of them are easy, each one seems to have its own unique challenges!

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks Dale, The one I did 20 years ago took days of finagling. Gorilla glue's got nothing on that cutlers' cement! I'll try freezing and the heating. I love that old stag. Thanks again. J.O'.

[Ridgegrass]

Just an update. Dale, your tips worked perfectly. I froze them and the knife did loosen up some. I worked the torch about three-four inches from the hilts and the cement began bubbling out slowly for about 3 or 4 minutes. When I torqued the blade and the steel with channel locks they both worried out rather easily, and the stag is totally unaffected. Great method, especially compared to my struggles in the past. and . J.O.

[doglegg]

Just an update. Dale, your tips worked perfectly. I froze them and the knife did loosen up some. I worked the torch about three-four inches from the hilts and the cement began bubbling out slowly for about 3 or 4 minutes. When I torqued the blade and the steel with channel locks they both worried out rather easily, and the stag is totally unaffected. Great method, especially compared to my struggles in the past. and . J.O.

Lovely stag. Can't wait to see what they go on.

[Ridgegrass]

Yep, me too, J.O'.

[orvet]

Great method, especially compared to my struggles in the past. and . J.O.

Glad to know it worked well for you.
I think the first one I did took 3 or 4 days working until the point of frustration then coming back the next day to try again!

That is great looking stag!
I want to see there it ends up. Be sure to post pics!

[Ridgegrass]

Sure will. Lord knows when! Thanks again. O'.

[Ridgegrass]

Sure will. Lord knows when! Thanks again. O'.