First Decent Knife Complete!.. Almost. Cocobolo finish?

pnizio · Dec 15, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Since joining BF I decided to try my hand at buying some blanks and making my own handles. So here is a blank I bought and put some cocobolo handles on. Its all sanded down and smoothed but I don't know how to finish it. I've read its an oily wood so a quick clean with acetone then shellac and lacquer. Can someone with experience with Cocobolo chime in? Also let me know what you guys think! Here she is.

scotchleaf · Dec 15, 2008

I'd just buff it on a wheel with an appropriate compound (search/ask which one, I can't remember which is the best). That will bring out the grain and put a shine on it.

I like the handle - where did you get the blank?

pnizio · Dec 15, 2008

scotchleaf said:
I'd just buff it on a wheel with an appropriate compound (search/ask which one, I can't remember which is the best). That will bring out the grain and put a shine on it.

I like the handle - where did you get the blank?

Thanks. I got the blanks here

http://www.northcoastknives.com/northcoast_knives_Supplies.htm

TheFlash · Dec 15, 2008

I've used Watco Danish Oil on a few of my 'buying blanks and finishing handles' projects.
It's good if you want a more matte finish on the handle and don't want to darken the wood too much...

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=46

Regards,
Mike

StretchNM · Dec 15, 2008

Looks good, Pnizio!

Heres what I'd do: sand it down to about 320 or so, then apply a couple of three coats of shellac (fresh mixed blone or orange, to about a 1lb cut). If you buy canned shellac, get Zinser Bullseye, pour a little in a cup, and add the same amount of denatured alcohol. Swirl and stir, let it sit overnight, then put about three coats on, with a minute or two in-between coats. Let it dry for a few hours, then buff it ALL OFF with 0000 steel wool (the shellac will remain in the pores). After that dries overnight, you can put any knid of finish you want over the top, including just wax if you want. If you wanted to keep going with shellac after that 0000 buff, repeat the process over and over again, putting as many coats as you want on.

elkins45 · Dec 15, 2008

Birchwood Casey makes a great finish for gunstocks called Tru-Oil. You can buy bottles at most good gun shops or perhaps at the various 'marts'. It's a good quality hand-rubbed oil finish that would probably do a good job.

yoda4561 · Dec 15, 2008

I'd go to around 320 grit with the grain, buff with 000 or finer steel wool, then a good coat of wax.

nozh2002 · Dec 15, 2008

pnizio said:
Hi Everyone,

Since joining BF I decided to try my hand at buying some blanks and making my own handles. So here is a blank I bought and put some cocobolo handles on. Its all sanded down and smoothed but I don't know how to finish it. I've read its an oily wood so a quick clean with acetone then shellac and lacquer. Can someone with experience with Cocobolo chime in? Also let me know what you guys think! Here she is.

Just polish it with Sandpaper - grit after grit up to 3000.

It will shine itself. You may add some Carnauba polish for tobacco pipes - best polish I know so far:

full process - http://playground.sun.com/~vasya/KnifemakingBeauty.html

Here my bulat feather with Cocobolo:

pnizio · Dec 15, 2008

Thats an awesome knife! Thanks for the tips!