How to finish an Amboyna Handle

D

doublegun3

Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
9
What is the best way to finish an amboyna knife handle.
I am knew to knife making and have not worked much with wood.

Thanks.

Great forum
 
First sand it by 300, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000 sandpapers - it will shine itself.

Then simpliest way - buy in tobacco shop special coating for tobacco pipes and use this - it has carnauba + silicon. Very simple to to apply and polish with fabric - about 5 min work all together.

You may also put shellac, or boil it in bee wax, or use boiled linen seed oil.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

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In my opinion, amboyna is too soft to make the handle for a knife that will be used.

Amboyna is a perfect candidate for stabilizing. Send it to Mike Ludeman at WSSI and have it stabilized.
 
I have used stablized Amboyna and I take it up thru the grits 100 220 400 600 and then hand sand for a couple of hours with 1000 grit. then buff it up on a clean muslin buff with fabuluster compound. ( if you are new to knife making there is one piece of knowledge you should hear! the BUFFER IS THE MOST DANGEROUS piece of machinery in your shop. all you have to do is let mind wander for a second and let the knife get a speck over that 270 degree mark. And the next thing you know you are stareing at a knife sticking in your thigh! THINKING MAN! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN????? :eek: :eek: :eek: :foot: :foot: :confused:
 
I have to reiterate everything everyone else said about getting it stabilized and the sanding grits and yada yada yada....
Also would like to add that I really like the look that it takes on with teak oil. Much richer than without. Most amboyna you buy is burl which makes getting it stabilized a necessity not an option. The first THREE handles I put on the first knife I made were of unstabilized amboyna. I am a slow learner. Don'tyou be.
Good Luck,
Matt Doyle
 
I love the looks of amboyna burl. It really needs to be stabilized and it will still move after it has been stabilized.
 
Thanks all for the advise.

Could someone explain stabilze? I am new to knfie making and I would like to know some detail about this process.

Great forum.

Thanks again for the information.
 
Stabilizing is a process were the piece is saturated with a polymer resin under tremedous pressure and then vaccume. This permeates the material and makes it resistant to moisture, oils, and changes in humidity. They can take a material that is too soft (amboyna) and make it very hard and (stabil). Then you work it just like regular wood just be sure to wear a respirator. The wood can also be dyed varius colors. If you look at the link mentioned above (WSSI) it will explain the process as much as they are willing.

Chuck
 
Hi Mike! how are you doing? yeah I thought I took one year off of knifemaking but I just realized it was two years. I just got rolling a couple of weeks ago and I should have a finished piece to post in a little while. my health is better all the way around. I am falling apart at only 47 years young HA HA
 
Hi, Double!!! Take a look under Hey mike I have somthing to tell you. It's in the custom knife section. Or just search Lovett. There is a matching set, A new York Special, and a Hide out in Amboyna that has been stabalized. I worked it just about like I would have micarta, but with a little hand sanding the rounds of the tang. I used white compound, and it cme out great! Mike http://www.lovettknives.com/
 
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