Cactus skeleton

Frontier Forge · Sep 13, 2002

Does any one know where I can obtain some sorara(spelling ?) cactus skeleton. I was going to fill the voids with tinted epoxy and see what the stuff looked like as knife scales, or stick tang handle....Any of ya'll live in the south west, theres probably some in your backyard..

Mike Hull · Sep 13, 2002

I remember when some makers were doing that in the early 80's. The material is Cholla Cactus(pronounced choy a). They had fallen from the main plant and dried completely, including losing the spines.
Believe it or not, it is actually illegal to pick them up anymore, on state land, as the tree huggers say that they provide homes for rodents, and they got a law passed. You can get them from private property though.

Mike Hull · Sep 13, 2002

Oops, just re read and saw you were talking Saguaro Cactus. It only grows in the Sonoran desert, from Phoenix area and south. The same restrictions apply.
Saguaro=sue-whar-o.

helmar4578 · Sep 13, 2002

The skeleton of the night blooming Cereus (Cactus) also makes an interesting handle or scales! Sandy

Frontier Forge · Sep 13, 2002

The cactus I was thinking of is the type that the make lamps,and mini covered wagons, the stuff you find at gift shops in arizona. i found a supplier in mexico but want you to buy bundles of 50 sticks and 3 bundle min. Any southwesterners in Az or mexico feel like sharing yard dedris

Jerry Adams · Sep 13, 2002

Try your local pet shop. I sell tons of the stuff. It is used in hermit crab cages.

J A Whalen · Sep 13, 2002

Yeah, what Adams said. You should be able to get that in almost any pet shop.

By the way Adams, thats a pretty looking boa.
Joe

RHINOKNIVES · Sep 14, 2002

i use to have a few diff, snakes years ago.

folderVSfixed · Sep 14, 2002

Is this what you are talking about?

I think it makes for fairly interesting handle material.

Frontier Forge · Sep 15, 2002

excuse me while i wipe the drool from my chin. Now that there is gorgeous, And that is the look of the scales I was hoping for, what material?

folderVSfixed · Sep 16, 2002

Kinda neat looking isn't it?

I picked it up at gun/knife show. The elderly gentleman said it was cactus root. Beats me though! It just sounded like what y'all are talking about so I thought I might post a pic for ya so you could see what it looks like on a finished knife.
Take care.