How to finish a water buffalo handle?

D

Dr Heelhook

Joined
Jul 24, 2007
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I just scored me a nice pair of dyed, striped water buffalo scales and I was wondering how to do with the final surface finish of this material. Is it a good idea to just sand it down to 5000, polish it and then leave it like that, or is it better to use some sort of product like oil or varnish to make it last longer? I am leaning towards the first option, but I don't want the handles to dry and crack up on me. I looked for a good thread about this, but I couldn't find any.
/Oskar
 
DON'T get it hot!!!!

Sand to 400-1000 range ( 400 is fine enough).
Buff on a buffer with white rouge ( very light application of rouge). Don't lean in hard or it will burn.
Hand buff with cotton cloth and any good hard wax. Carnauba/Brix, etc..
 
Yeah it polishes really easy. I think last time I used it I took it up to 400 grit and buffed it. But like Stacy said for over heat it. If you do over heat it, it gets a weird white area.
 
Be really careful when drilling it too. At least the stuff I've used likes to blow out the back and peel like a fingernail... because that's basically what it is.
 
Tenebr0s said:
Be really careful when drilling it too. At least the stuff I've used likes to blow out the back and peel like a fingernail... because that's basically what it is.
Click to expand...
That is a good point. I’m thinking if maybe adding some g10 liners might help with that?
 
This is one I did a while back. I sanded it to 800(which is plenty) and lightly buffed with pink scratchless. Don't get it hot, drill with a solid backer, and if it warps you can heat it up in warm water and clamp it down to straighten it. By the way, it smells awful when grinding!
ODFv0FX.jpg
 
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