Leather handle question

rasret01

rasret01

Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
153
I want to lay up a leather handle with hoen spacers on a large bowie knife.
Two questions... Should the leather washers go together dry or be epoxied to each other and, will danish oil and buffing provide a suitable finish?

Thanks for your insights.

Dick
 
I've used contact cement like Richard, and I've also used spray glue on each surface to act like a contact cement of sorts.

WAAAAYYYY back when I was in high school, the local knife guy would use a "homebrew" Elmer's type glue when he was stacking the washers... I've only done contact, so YMMV.

Danish oil and a fine buffing medium will get you a great finish.

Richard, can you provide a bit more info on the super glue application?

Charlie
 
Michael - After I thought about it and did a search :o , I did see it.

This is 14" blade my brother made when he was an engineering student in Maine Maritime Academy - about 55 years ago! He made all the pieces and a beautiful sheath, but didn't finish it because he didn't want to mess with the heat treating. He's 77 now and fighting cancer, and I thought he might like to see it done.

Here it is after heat treat and temper...

Dick
 

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after getting the handle sanded to shape i start applying superglue in small sections until i have the entire handle coated. i look over the handle and fill in any low spots or gaps that i might have missed. then i hand sand with 280 grit on a block just enough to make the low spots show up not worrying about the high spots too much. i then fill in the low spots and continue sanding until i get it smoothed out. watch out not to sand through and fill in any spots that do go through. i repeat the process several times until i get several layers of glue applied. i final sand with 400 before switching to 0000 steel wool and clean cotton buffing wheel for final finish.
 
Last edited:
rasret01 said:
Michael - After I thought about it and did a search :o , I did see it.

This is 14" blade my brother made when he was an engineering student in Maine Maritime Academy - about 55 years ago! He made all the pieces and a beautiful sheath, but didn't finish it because he didn't want to mess with the heat treating. He's 77 now and fighting cancer, and I thought he might like to see it done.

Here it is after heat treat and temper...

Dick
Click to expand...

This is truly a work from the heart! Great job!

Does he know you are doing this? Just the THOUGHT of something like this makes me choke up a bit.

I hope the info helps you to complete the knife, and I can't wait to see final pics!

Charlie
 
richard j said:
after getting the handle sanded to shape i start applying superglue in small sections until i have the entire handle coated. i look over the handle and fill in any low spots or gaps that i might have missed. then i hand sand with 280 grit on a block just enough to make the low spots show up not worrying about the high spots too much. i then fill in the low spots and continue sanding until i get it smoothed out. watch out not to sand through and fill in any spots that do go through. i repeat the process several times until i get several layers of glue applied. i final sand with 400 before switching to 0000 steel wool and clean cotton buffing wheel for final finish.
Click to expand...

Richard, that is an interesting procedure that I can see working well!

I may try this one the leather stack I have planned for my youngest son.

Charlie
 
when i glued up the handle for the knife i posted the link to i done it in 2 sections and then glued them together. when i cut out the washers i didnt worry about the outside shape. i just made sure they were close enough to the size i wanted and cut out the center slot. once i had the handle glued up i used my bandsaw to cut out the shape i wanted and sanded it to final shape.
 
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