Live & learn....through encouragement, trial and error!

[dewman]

I've read just about every tutorial here on the site and gazed wonderously at some of the beautiful work that has been displayed. It serves as a great initiator and offers encouragement to an all thumbs novice to the knife world, especially in the art of rehandling and such.
Pictured is one of my latest victims. It began as a Parker (Japanese) trapper with a cracked set of handles that happened because someone (???) tried to pein over the rocker pin and laid hands on it too hard!
It ended up with the set of white handles pictured that are of elk leg bone. The natural cracks are only superficial and don't really effect the integrity of the knife. I'm fairly well pleased, but I learn a little more with each project. I'm using knives that aren't of any real collector interest, so I'm not putting myself into any real jeopardy.

[muskrat man]

you done good Dewey! Nearly all handles I have done in natural bone have those natural cracks, I just did a Schrade 8OT today and it has a couple of those natural hairlines. I like that alot, in fact I think you should send it to me for further inspection. I'll send it back......... I promise

What I like to see is the attention to fit between the bolsters, no gaps that I can see and a nice smooth polished finish on both handles and bolsters. You're learning quick.

[dewman]

Thanks for the encouraging words, MM. As you know, when the two bolsters aren't parallel with each other, it makes it somewhat more difficult. But, I've learned to shape the new scales so that they will "wedge" themselves tight. I'm sure you know what I mean. I like the cracks....and on the next set I do, I'm going to soak them in some lacquer based wood stain overnight....maybe a dark mahogany color.... hoping it will give them an aged ivory look. Have you ever tried this?

[Classic Case]

real nice job

[muskrat man]

I've never soaked bone in wood stain with satisfying results, but you can soak them in coffee and it will turn them nicely. It antiques bone quite well. dark tea work well also, can't say how deep in penetrates though.

[Hukk]

First of all let me say I like your work very much. SECOND, the "natural cracks" if you will are the genuine character of the knife. I don't understand why folks will discard a knife, or like with some GEC Primative Bone knives, I know a distributor who had knives returned due to these natural cracks, they were not pin cracks (did hear of some of those) those are caused by assembly and are not acceptable, give me one with natural cracks please. Matter of fact, go to Alpha Knife supply and look at the mammoth ivory. Which ones are more expensive, why the "cracked Ice" of course, because they add so much charactor to any knife. OK, I apologize for the rant, a pet peeve if you will.

I see that you're fairly happy with your work and you should be. But to me it means you see ways of doing it different and you want to improve with each knife.

Hmmn, Maybe try what GEC did with Copenhagen or green tea to dye. Walnut hulls collected in the Fall make a nice natural dye.

Keep up the good work, you're hooked!

[useem]

I have a question. How is the dyeing process done? With the coffee, green tea, tobacco, or the shells? Is it as simple as mixing with water, or is there a certain mix ratio? How long would you let the scales soak?

[muskrat man]

useeum, you soak the bone in the tea, or coffee, no dilutions. I'm not sure how long you would need to soak something the size of scales to get good penetration, I have only dyed small pieces of bone jewelery, nothing larger than a quarter

[useem]

I hear you Muskrat Man. Thank you for the info.

[orvet]

I have used Rit clothing dye with fair success on bone.
I boil the bone in the dye for about 45 minutes and then allow it several days to dry.

From the reading I have done on natural dyes, I would allow the bone several days to soak in the tea/coffee/tobacco solution. In fact I think I would put the bone in with the tea leaves, coffee grounds, or tobacco, not just a strong cup of tea or coffee. I think where the bone touches the tea leaves or coffee grounds yo may get some darker spots, which may add some character to the dye job. This is something you would have to experiment with.

One thing you night consider, adding some vinegar to the dye. The acid (I am told) helps the dye to "bite" into the bone. I used lemon juice when I used Rit dye, simply because I was boiling them in the house & didn't want the house to smell like vinegar.

Dale

[Hukk]

Here is a link to a discussion about dyeing cow bone from another site.

http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/showt ... t=bone+dye

Throughout this thread they discuss different ideas that may be helpful. I found it to be very informative.