Finishing cocobolo?

J

Jason Fry

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Jun 5, 2008
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I'm working on a knife that's got my first cocobolo handles. I'm not too happy with the color, as one side has a big orange stripe, while the other side is more consistent dark/light grain bands. Several questions. One, is coco too oily to take a stain, so I can get a more even color? Two, being dense and oily, what kind of finish is recommended? I have used superglue on most of my first 36 knives, but am willing to try something else if it works better. Usually I sand to 400 then superglue. Do I need to go finer with the coco?
 
IMHO Cocobolo finishes just fine with nothing on it.. Maybe some good wood oil and thats it.. I like to give it a nice 400 or so satin finish and just leave it that way.
It buffs up real nice too if you want a polished look.. Coco is one of the best woods I've ever used for knife handles, and as a rule I dont care for wood much at all in use..
 
I usually go 600x or so on cocobolo and buff in 100% carnuba. I have superglued in the past with good results.
 
Put the knife - orange side up - in a sunbeam for three days and then decide if you still need stain. Coco darkens big time with UV exposure and time.

Rob!
 
Yeah. like Rob said, it turns color. That orange will go away after a week or two. I make the knife and sit it on the shelf for a while to color before I do anything with it. Good idea about the sun, I've never tried that. Might shave off some of the wait.

Cocobolo is not popular with a lot of wood workers because it gives people a rash and the dust makes people sick. It is an acquired sensitivity - so don't use up your immunity carelessly. There are a lot of people who can't work it, which is a shame because it works really well and is very pretty. I plan to use it for as long as I am able to.
 
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