Has anyone used cast pinecone or cactus handle material?

[tim37a]

Mike,
It was my idea so I get first crack at the stabilized cholla.
Tim

 

[phillipsted]

Having had several unfortunate run-ins with live Cholla cactus in the wild, I shudder every time I see these in a catalog. These have to be one of the worst plants anywhere on the planet. The thorns are barbed and hooked and they are very thin and densely packed around the plant. If you get within 2 feet of a "Teddybear Cholla", it will reach out and sink its claws into your soft flesh. Nasty, nasty, nasty stuff.

TedP

 

[Burl Source]

I had some concerns as to how the casting resin would hold up over time.
There are lots of different grades and formulations so a bit more research is needed.

One of my concerns is the difference in hardness between the pine cone or whatever and the resin.

My impression was that I would see someone make a knife or three using the material and then never again.
So I was wandering if there is something problematic that we are not hearing.

 

[Robert Dark]

I had some concerns as to how the casting resin would hold up over time.

I'm with you Mark. Since the casting resin should be (near) clear, I wonder about things like UV filters, chalking with age, and the other normal things that we encounter with aging materials.

I will agree that "cones" and "cactus" look really "cool", however, before I send a customer a knife that he paid hard earned money for, I want to know that the handle material has a pretty good track record for longevity.

Robert

 

[Varga Knives]

TK Steingass also made a beauty with the pine cone so maybe he will chime in or shoot him a PM. I do love the fish scale look.

 

[bacustomknives]

I used a ton of both cone and cactus and alot of other casted materials,it is beautiful,it works easy.main goal in making some up mark is to get a good air free solid cast.some of it had alot of open pours some didnt,nothin a little bit of ca glue wouldnt fix.a man could make some insane stuff id like to see leaves cast,stuff like that aswell give those hunters the mother nature camo knife :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Bob Carter]

Haven't seen any of the cactus but the Pine Cone I've seen on Bill's knives has peaked my interest. I gotta' try it soon. Hope to find a good source.

 

[Burl Source]

Haven't seen any of the cactus but the Pine Cone I've seen on Bill's knives has peaked my interest. I gotta' try it soon. Hope to find a good source.

I believe it was Ankrom Exotics who has been doing the pine cone scales.

When I mentioned cactus I was referring to the prickly pear cactus.
They were using the inside that looked like webbing that contrasted with the casting resin.

The mentions about the Cholla cactus got me thinking about getting sections of cholla stabilized and then doing the casting resin thing.

When I actually try this out I will probably ask for some volunteers to see what they think of it before producing any for sale.

 

[tim37a]

Mike,
If you get some cholla stabilized I will try it for you. I don't want it filled with casting resin for the reasons I already stated. I would cut it in half to make scales, fill the central void with thickened epoxy, and fill the surface depressions with red coral dust or turquoise dust. Probably put on black G10 end caps. Should be beautiful.
Tim

 

[TK Steingass]

TK Steingass also made a beauty with the pine cone so maybe he will chime in or shoot him a PM. I do love the fish scale look.

I've received quite a few orders for it from customers that have seen it on other maker's knives and occasionally listed one on BF, specifically, this one:

It works easily and when you get the scales from Ankrom Exotics, you get hammered with the smell of pine when you open the bag! You will have to fill a pore every once in awhile with CA, but since it's already an acrylic polymer, the CA is compatible with the substrate. Nice stuff!

 

[TK Steingass]

TK Steingass also made a beauty with the pine cone so maybe he will chime in or shoot him a PM. I do love the fish scale look.

I've made quite a few for customers that have seen it on other maker's knives and occasionally listed one on BF, specifically, this Camp Master:

It works easily and when you get the scales from Ankrom Exotics, you get hammered with the smell of pine when you open the box! You will have to fill a pore every once in awhile with CA, but since it's already an acrylic polymer, the CA is compatible with the substrate. Nice stuff!

 

[brettn]

I picked up some buckeye burl scales from a local dealer this weekend that had the voids filled with resin. Not sure how it will turn out, but it looks pretty cool. Good way to make use of wood you would normally throw away.

 

[Willie71]

I have a pine cone, a vacuum pump (still snowed in- maybe get to it this weekend) and some casting epoxy. I plan to do an experiment and see how it turns out.I'll keep you posted.