Cocobolo Handles

medtech

medtech

Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
100
Just wanted to get some feed back on how some of you finish your Cocobolo handles. I've tried Teak oil, and Super glue but was woundering about Polurethane. Any help? It sucks being a neeewbee, but I have learned alot just by reading all the posts I can:) :) ...Thanks

Steve
 
If it were me I'd just sand to 400-600 grit and the buff. If I'm not mistaken, cocobolo has enough oils in it that just buffing it will do fine.

Do be careful working it though. Wear a respirator and long sleeves. If you're not allergic to it now, you CAN create an allergy to it (I have a friend who used to work cocobolo all the time and he can't even get near the dust from it now).

-d
 
Good warning deker! My dad has a terrible reaction to it.Hasn't bothered me but I'm very careful with it.It's a member of the Rosewood group and all should be used with caution!
It can be polished and buffed or finished. The piece I have has some open grain that resemble cracks so I glue finish to seal them up.
 
D, you're right! There was a time when I used cocobolo quite a bit. Then, one day, my eyes swelled up and my face turned red! I was done. I sold what I had left.
Anyway, yep, it's oily. So oily, infact, that it may resist any finish you attempt to put on it.
Personally, I'd do a good sand job on it up to at least 1000 and maybe 1500, then buff with a CLEAN!! wheel.
 
I used it in the past and have never liked the smell. The oils get into your skin and your fingers smell like the stuff for days.
Some people say how wonderfully aromatic it is. I just think it stinks.
 
I've been using it now for several months on about 5 knives. I always wear a mask when working with it and have not had any problems with it. I can't say it smells all that great, but it sure is nice when it's done. Thanks for all the help..
 
Deker Said it Right,:thumbup:
I love cocobolo but I use a resperator when grinding or sanding.
I do use pink no scratch or Zam buffing compound on it. Based on kbaknife comments I may try a clean buffing wheel.
I have not had a allergic reaction to it but I Don't want to push my luck either.
I am allergic to blood wood. If I don't wash compleately I Break out with a rash like poisen Ivory that lasts for 7 days or sooooo.
 
Does the high polish/ sanding keep a good grippy surface? I have only used it once and sanded it to 400 grit where I stopped, afraid that it would get considerably slicker. But I have noticed that the handle is loosing its rich color (getting whiter/lighter). I was going to try applying some sno seal to return the lustre but am still deciding (the only buffing I can do is with a Dremel so I am not sure if I want to go that route yet)
 
medtech said:
I've been using it now for several months on about 5 knives. I always wear a mask when working with it and have not had any problems with it. I can't say it smells all that great, but it sure is nice when it's done. Thanks for all the help..
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Not to get a gloom & doom on you, but a mask will not do well enough for a lot of things you'll get into with knifemaking (exotic woods, synthetic resins, silica remnants from grinding belts, etc, etc, etc). A good respirator is only about $30 and will keep you much more safe.

If you're the bearded type you may need to spend a little more $$ for a full-face forced-air setup, but IMHO saving your lungs is worth it.

-d
 
I've worked some beautiful coco-bolo in the past, but have given up on it. Shame as I still have well figured, highly colored Coco Bolo in stock. The problem I've had with it, Is that with in two years, It looses all of it's beautiful colors, and goes dark, and plain. I'm told that It reacts this way to air, and light. Mike
 
I knew the "mask" issue would come back to haunt me. This is the 3M n95 Respirator "mask" I figure if it meets the CDC guidelines for T.B. Exposure in health care providers it should work pretty good for dealing with cocobolo dust and other knifemaking exposures. These are not the paper mask you get from the Dollar Store.
 
medtech said:
I knew the "mask" issue would come back to haunt me. This is the 3M n95 Respirator "mask" I figure if it meets the CDC guidelines for T.B. Exposure in health care providers it should work pretty good for dealing with cocobolo dust and other knifemaking exposures. These are not the paper mask you get from the Dollar Store.
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Good to hear! Please doin't take my posts as patronizing in any way, it's just that I've seen what emphysema aggrivated by other badness can do to a person and I'd never wish that on anybody. Though, with a handle like medtech I figure you know all of that as well too huh? ;)

Have a good one!

-d
 
No problem. Thanks for all your help. I think after I use what's left of this stock I'm going to try somthing else....Take care
Steve
 
Makes you wonder about all those duck calls made out of cocobola...I guess that's why it's real important to exhale! :D

Craig
 
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