All About Pocket Knives

Has any one used amber dyed Sambar stag from Culpepper? Got some today. Started fitting it and the dye really comes off on my hands,,, bad . Not a problem since I can wash it off with some effort. My question is; are there any necessary steps to stabilizing the stuff so the dye stops coming off once I'm done fitting it to the knife. Can I rinse the finished scales in mineral spirits or just wash them in soap and water???? I can see this will be a big problem to carry this one if I don't somehow stop the bleeding out of dye. Like the way the stag works though. Also, one of the pieces has a significant marrow(?) or soft center that is about an 1/8 in deep. Should I fill this with epoxy to strengthen it? Thinnest part of my scales will be just about 1/8 in near the bolsters. The rest will be plenty thick enough that the soft part won't be a problem.

what did culpepper say about the bleeding?

First off don't worry about things until the knife is ready to finish. Bone and bone stag will bleed until finished down and bufffed. After buffing scrub with soap and water with a toothbrush, then buff again. Fit as much of the stag from the bottom to remove most if not all of the pithy area and you don't have to worry asbout it. Take note, that it will crack easily I busted a set yesterday.

Yes, and they have always been good to me about answering questions about their products. They've been at this a long time and I've found them great to work with if you have a concern. It will come out fine!

Just got their answer and they say to just buff it and that will seal the pores and stop the leaching. I tried mineral spirits on a small piece and it had NO effect. Tried to wash it using dish soap and water and toothbrush and Lo and Behold just as MM said it stopped leaching out. Decided to fill the pithy center using epoxy mixed with sawdust left over from fitting the first side. This stabilized and strengthened it considerably. Also took off some of the bottom stock so I can utilize the better-firmer-upper side.
Thx for all the good advice and will post pics.
Has anyone ever tried to install precious gemstones on the button? Would like to try to install a saphire. Have seen these on William Henry knives and it makes a nice touch.

pmike5869 wrote:Has anyone ever tried to install precious gemstones on the button? Would like to try to install a saphire. Have seen these on William Henry knives and it makes a nice touch.

No, I've never tried it, but I do see that they sell buttons and thumb studs ready made to accept a stone. I assume you use a good glue and just glue it in. Likely you can cut a setting with a dremel or my favorite the turbo carver. Scares me though - that Turbo Carver sounds like a dentists drill.

Any idea who sells those thumb studs. I've looked at several knife suppliers and no luck so far.

pmike5869 wrote:Any idea who sells those thumb studs. I've looked at several knife suppliers and no luck so far.

Try this link. Should be a few.

http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=60_94_169

Same supplier, this link will lead to more types.

http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=60_94

Thx HUkk for the source. Ordered a couple and bid on ebay for some Rubies to go into them. Hope they fit. 6mm is not a very good description of size and if the stones are just a hair too big they won't fit. Rubies are pretty hard and just thinking about how to make the stone and the stud mesh is a challenge.

You're welcome! I've seen the stones set down the spine of a knife to augment filework and it looks pretty good. I have seen stones set just about anywhere as part of the overall design. You can go as far as your tools, imagination, and MONEY will let you.

As far as 6mm goes, I just use a lot of online calculators.

http://www.jewelrybynet.com/jbn_convers ... ulator.asp for converting mm to inches. Your 6 mm is .236 inches so it's just under a 1/4 inch.

Lately I have been working with dying wood and vacuum so:

http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccpress.htm way more than I need to know. But I hooked the refrigerator compressor up to my little cannister and my gauge only goes to 30 in of Hg. If it went that far I'd guess it's around 40 in of hg right now. I stopped it there, no need for that small cannister to take any more, that almost 20 psi of VACUUM.

Anyway, you can find an online calculator to convert just about anything.

Got the studs and the Rubies are in the mail. finished the Sambar stag and filework and decided to try some teepee style on another knife.

very impressive!

I think mike here has been holding out his talents on us

I am flattered beyond belief by your responses. I would never have tried to do these things without the inspiration of talent displayed on this site. If there is a lesson to be learned it is not to be afraid to try and fail. God knows I have sufferd some disasters and always changed my diapers and jumped back in. I have no desire to get commercial with this, I'm having too much fun. I am ending up with a lot more knives than I can possibly use so the future of these things is a large ?? What in the heck to do with them,,, Well I have decided to give them to the ones I love. I have 4 brothers, son-in-law and grand kids who will be the beneficiaries. Nice to have all this time on my hands.

Beautiful work Mike. And by the way, I'm available for adoption!

Griz

Those look just fantastic! What do you call both of them. The top is Teepee and I don't know what you call the bootom one. I've seen it before, but I can't think of it. Thanks for showing those, they look great!

What is it called?, Haven't a clue. Took me 3 weeks of planning/thinking about it to try it the first time then had to grind it all off and start over. It was a heck of a lot easier than the teepee tho. Glad I did the first one (the name "vine" comes to mind) before the teepee. My primative skills at precise filing were really challenged but I feel better now. More confidence is a real asset. Learning to recover from disasters is as great an asset as the inspirational images on this website. I would like to take pics and show the steps of how I did it, particularly the planning and tools I used. Maybe someone out there could benefit. I feel guilty suggesting that since I've only done 3 file work projects but to the person who is intimidated, like I was, maybe it would help.

Who hoo!!! Great lines Mike.

I really, really like those colors. The bottom filework is going to make it onto the next knife I work on...if you don't mind me copying the design?

The more I see your guys bone, stag and reconstituted stone - the more I realize that I have to start using that stuff.

Keep posting more Mike.....and a tutorial on file work is an excellent idea.

J

So far I've tried several kinds of wood, stag, ivory and like them all. Next try is Tiger coral. Just love the looks of that stuff. Mosaic Abalone looks great but is pretty pricey, enough to do my last project would have cost about $150.00. Also would love to get some turqoise worked in there. MOP scares me, I worry it will chip so easy.

pmike5869 wrote: Next try is Tiger coral. Just love the looks of that stuff.

My favorite material I believe and worth evry cent. What you get from Culpepper will be vastly Superior to what you use on factory knives. I just bought 2 sets of scales Monday morning. Tell Joe Culpepper that it is the first time using this material and to fill you in. Wear a respirator and use a light coat of el cheapo brand of super glue when you go to buff so that the black buff does not end up in the coral, which is a porous material and WILL collect they ugly gray residue from buffing. They may have another method by now.

Seems like the smaller pieces have better pattern. I also have the same knives with Apple Coral. Jeff Jones did these for me, until I figured why should he get all the fun. Ask for help as they won't offer, they figure most already know what they are doing and don't need help. But ASK! They will be nore than happy to help, they have always been for me. I also bought some lower grade Pearl the same day. Good luck, Nice work!

STUNNING, makes my mouth water. Thx for the advice. Those are more beautiful than I imagined, can't wait to find a knife to start on. This time I want to tear one down and do it all, filework, coral, etc. Can you use a file on that coral, sandpaper, drills? Thx again.

I've only used machines, my thought on files is that it can be done, as long as you don't tap the file against the coral -- crack! Sandpaper, watch out for grit scatching the bolsters, keep them well taped, I do use duct tape on occassion. The results are worth the effort and I would certainly get advice from Culpepper.

So far, on wood, ivory, and stag I have used duct tape on the bolsters when using a belt sander and scotch tape when I'm down to the final close fit with files and hand sanding.

When sanding I use the aluminum tape used on heat ducting to tape up the bolsters.
It works really well.

Dale

PS- I put an order in with Culpepper yesterday. I can't wait to get it!