How can I disguise a chipping mistake in a bone handle?

M

MT Borg

Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
224
I am taking a knife class and in drilling out the thong hole the bone chipped out. I super glued it back in but now have dark lines outlining the chipped area. The rest of the handle is white except for some yellow veining from its core near the bolster.

I was wondering if I could age the bone somehow. Or maybe take some acrylic paint, wipe it over the handle, wipe it clean, lightly sand it and some may stick in an interesting pattern? Then finish with super glue and polish?

Any other ideas? Thank you in advance for your tips and experience.
 
take a look at some dyes for finishing furniture? then .. effectively sand highlight the grip areas and use a lighter dye there.. should create a nice aged affect in theory? kind of like antiquing bone..??? end it all with something to seal... or even a beeswax rub? I don't know if this will work its just what I might try given the same scenario?

L.
 
A photo would help a lot!

If the chip is small, you could use a cylinder burr in a Dremmel tool and flute the edges around the thong tube. That way you can cut out the chip, or at least the worst lines of the glue joint.

When I have a chip or hole to fill in a handle, I grind up some of the same material on the grinder, catching the dust on a sheet pan. I then mix the dust with clear epoxy until it is a putty, and fill the hole tightly. After it sets up, I sand it smooth. The repair often is nearly invisible.

If you have a whole chip that still fits the place it came out of, clean all surfaces with acetone, and carefully place the chip back in place. Make sure it is all the way down tight, using a tweezer or something as a clamp if needed. Apply thin CA to the whole area, allowing it to wick into the joints. Keep the chip pressed down tight, and don't lift it at all. Let the glue dry for several hours, and re-apply more glue. Do this as many times as needed to completely fill the crack lines. Set aside and let cure for a day or two. Sand the area smooth. Another near invisible repair.

Stacy
 
I had something like that happen to my first knife. The handle is (black) buffalo horn.
I chose to inlay ivory forms in the handle, covering the pins, thus getting rid of the chip.
 
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