How would you finish this handle

G

guitardemon

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
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So I made this knife a while ago from a knifekits, kit. The handle is made of "black curly maple" which i also got from knifekits (http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=40_217&products_id=747)
Anyway, i got frustrated with the handle and put it away a while back, and now i've decided i should finish it up. I have some really nice curls in the handle but I cant seem to get them to "pop". I have sanded this thing like crazy, over 1000 grit. I tried a thin layer of super glue, didn't seem to work, though i'm not sure if i did it right. I tryed using a buffing wheel on the dremmel and that didn't seem to do much either. So what would you do to make this handle really pop?

(I was going to attach a picture of the actual knife handle here, but it seems that you arnt allowed to attach pictures anymore...)
 
I don't know if you can since that maple has stabilized with a black dye. Un dyed it shouldn't be any problem.
 
yeah, originally I didn't know it was died(I guess I just didn't think about it). Now I'm just not sure what to do with it.
 
EDITED: Oops, sorry didn't realize it had been stabilized already so I'm editing my post. Since it's stabilized I would sand it to 600 by 220, 400, 600 and wet sand with the 400 and 600. If you can't find a buffer to use you can use very, very fine steel wool and buff it. You can also get a cheap kit at Lowes or Home Depot that attaches a small buffing wheel to a hand drill. Use this with a fine buffing compound and it should turn out nicely. The Dremel is not going to do much on that size a piece.
 
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It is stabilize right? doesnt that mean it is impregnated with a Plastic of some sort? if it is it wont take another finish.
 
you're going to need more than the dremel to get it to pop. there's just not enough surface area in thoes small wheels to do a good job. maybe you can find a maker close to you that can buff it out. you can also try a body shop. they should be able to help you buff it since a car finish is plastic. just tape up the blade good before going at it.
 
stabilized I have good luck with a cheapo buffer using red rouge and a stiched wheel followed by spending a couple hours watching my kids doing some green scotchbrite pad by hand.
 
guitardemon said:
So I made this knife a while ago from a knifekits, kit. The handle is made of "black curly maple" which i also got from knifekits (http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=40_217&products_id=747)
Anyway, i got frustrated with the handle and put it away a while back, and now i've decided i should finish it up. I have some really nice curls in the handle but I cant seem to get them to "pop". I have sanded this thing like crazy, over 1000 grit. I tried a thin layer of super glue, didn't seem to work, though i'm not sure if i did it right. I tryed using a buffing wheel on the dremmel and that didn't seem to do much either. So what would you do to make this handle really pop?

(I was going to attach a picture of the actual knife handle here, but it seems that you arnt allowed to attach pictures anymore...)
Click to expand...

Sand it as fine as you can then take a very smooth piece of round bar stainless would be nice and rub the handle with the bar (Burnish) that will bring it up as best as its going to get with out a full size buff.
Richard
 
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