All About Pocket Knives

I probably don't need to say this but. . . I'm overly cautious at times.

If you're going to use potassium permanganate (I do too), stick with dissolving it in WATER. No vacuum pumps, no oils, no organic solvents or alcohols (ethyl, methyl, glycerol, etc). In addition to being an excellent stain for bone/antler/etc, potassium permangante is a strong oxidizer. Combustion is oxidation.

coffeecup wrote:If you're going to use potassium permanganate (I do too), stick with dissolving it in WATER.

The only thing I ever used to dissolve it

I read about the PP and have seen the results. I wanted to try something different. Also. Ever since I've been a wee lad I've always done things the hard way. Of course I never knew I was doing it the hard way until after I was done.

rexstubbins wrote:Ever since I've been a wee lad I've always done things the hard way. Of course I never knew I was doing it the hard way until after I was done.

My luck continues. I wake up this morning and this is what I see.

Luckily it is still holding vacuum and the scales are getting some color. I'm gonna let em soak for another day or until my garage implodes.

It amazes me that there is such a difference in density between these 2 scales. I got them from the same source. I think these are going to have to soak for a few more days.

The one on the right hand side is starting to look good

rexstubbins wrote:It amazes me that there is such a difference in density between these 2 scales. I got them from the same source. I think these are going to have to soak for a few more days.

Fort he sake of reference, which was the one that absorbed the most oil?

Rex, you have done a fantastic job on the knife, both the work and its documentation. Great job.

coffeecup wrote:

rexstubbins wrote:It amazes me that there is such a difference in density between these 2 scales. I got them from the same source. I think these are going to have to soak for a few more days.

Fort he sake of reference, which was the one that absorbed the most oil?

The darker one is the one that absorbed the most oil.

Well again my luck runneth over. The vacuum chamber finally decided to crack enough to where vacuum wasn't holding anymore. You can see my attempt at non-objective art. The lids to the chamber has become increasingly simplistic the more I make.

Try this to make a vacuum chamber.I made one the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DfZXM2B51Q

Shearer wrote:Try this to make a vacuum chamber.I made one the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DfZXM2B51Q

Yeah. I saw that one.

Of course that would require me to move on to plan E. Right now I'm on Plan D.2. If D.2. fails again with more art and D.3. (Star shaped lid) fails, I'll move on to plan E.

rexstubbins wrote:If D.2. fails again with more art and D.3. (Star shaped lid) fails, I'll move on to plan E.

Try a sch 40 PVC round end cap, I doubt you will crack that. Only thing is it won`t be clear so you can see in.

Miller Bro`s wrote:

rexstubbins wrote:If D.2. fails again with more art and D.3. (Star shaped lid) fails, I'll move on to plan E.

Try a sch 40 PVC round end cap, I doubt you will crack that. Only thing is it won`t be clear so you can see in.

Hopefully I won't have to resort to that. LOOK we're almost there. This is starting to look like a salesman's sample. 1 light scale & 1 dark.

OK. I am finally at the point where I am done soaking the scales in the golden oak stain. I forgot to mention that I had added some vinegar into the stain yesterday. I took them out and padded them dry with a paper towel and then put a streak of the mahogany oil dye down the center of each scale (pic 2.)

Picture 3 is after they have dried. I like the outcome. Kind of a 2 tone. Time to start re-assembly.

Wow, those sure came out great!

Lookin' Mighty Fine!!

Made some progress. Still not completely done. Need to polish the bolsters a bit more. All in all I'm happy with the results.

In retrospect:

* I would use leather stain & dye again. I like the outcome.
* I would not use olive oil to pre-soak them in. I think this somewhat hindered the stain from soaking in. When I added vinegar to the stain it looked like it leeched out the oil and the stain soaked in faster.
* I might try pre-soaking in vinegar or isopropal alcohol the next time.
* I now have a vacuum chamber. Might use it to impress the grandkids by placing marshmallows in it.
* All in all I did this to experiment and I had fun doing it. Almost time for the next knife.

Progress pics below...

looks good!

W0W! you nailed it--knife looks great.

I like your sense of humor Rex and the time you took to show us all these steps.It looks great.

I especially liked the marshmallow remark.

"Of course I never knew I was doing it the hard way until after I was done.",sounds like me.

You've became a star in one post.

Wow! It looks great, just great!

The end result is excellent!

What`s next??

Thank you for all the kind words.

As for my next one I think it'll be this one:

I don't think I'll use wood but I'll re-do it in bone. Not a big fan of wood handled knives. It was nice of Kurt to scribe his name on the handle.