How to color epoxy and best brand ???

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
I recently ordered a couple of the Village AK's with wood handles. However, one of them arrived with a horn handle and a long deep crack in the handle. I want to try and fix it with the epoxy by I don't know what kind is best, if it matters, and I don't have any idea how to color the epoxy to match the handle. So----any recommendations on brand and coloring agents? I went ahead and put a little super glue in the crack and thought about drilling a small hole in each end of the crack to prevent further cracking.
 
For a black color a little bit of charcoal finely powdered and mixed with the epoxy works. There are some knifemaker supply stores that carry colored epoxy.
 
Thanks. I guess the only thing that I would need to do after mixing the epoxy is to somehow press it in the crack the best I can and then sand off the excess. I know it probably depends on the job done but does this usually do a good job of covering up the crack and prevent further cracking.
 
i have always used good old shoe polish black brown tan ect.
you mix about 2 match head bits of shoe polish to about 10-12 match heads of epoxy quickly mix till even coloured then apply to your crack with your finger pressing it in deeply wipe of any excess then with a match put a final fine line of epoxy along the crack leave to dry overnight then sand to finish,finaly apply oil ect and presto no more crack.:) oops forgot to mention i always use 5 min epoxy but only cos it dries quick. any will do .
 
I've fixed all of the cracks in my horn handles with thin superglue. If it's really wide, then epoxy might be appropriate. One way to color epoxy is with dye sold by Texas Knifemakers Supply . A good epoxy is Devcon 2-ton. I buy mine at the local home supply store. Walmart may carry it. It comes in a twin tube syringe, making it easy to use. It's also available from the knifemakers suppliers.

If it's pretty narrow, try superglue, not the gel type. Add it slowly, letting it wick in. Do this several times, letting it set for a few hours between times, until it won't take any more. When filled sand off the excess with very fine wet-or-dry sandpaper, starting at about 400, progressing through the grits to 1000. Then if you wish a mirror shine, buff on a muslin polishing wheel with some red rouge polishing compound. Some guys like a rough finish on the horn, maybe 320 or 400 grit?

To prevent further cracking in the future, periodically treat the horn with any lanolin based compound. Some of us like Hooflex. Sold at animal stores to apply to horses hooves. You can buy pure lanolin at the drug store. It's used by nursing mothers.

Steve
 
Thanks for the info and the links. Actually, I already added a little superglue and I was surprized because it pretty much filled the crack. I like the rough finish on my horn handles instead of the polished look so it doesn't look like it will be noticeable. I'm off to look for some hooflex to prevent further problems.
 
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