New life to old scales

BigBiscuit

BigBiscuit

Joined
Dec 11, 2014
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Aside from general cleaning, polishing and sharpening or re-profiling a blade, I've never tried to bring new life to old scales to an old knife. The knife doesn't hold a lot of collector value. It's just one I like. I was hoping for a little advice. They are smooth bone. can I sand lightly and add a touch of stain? I don't really want to replace them. Just looking to give them a little eye appeal.
Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Not sure about staining or not. I guess it depends on how bad a shape they are. I've simmered bone scaled knives in very dark tea for 45 minutes or so and they were fine after (and took the color well). You can also soak it in very hot tea for a few hours for same result. You can definitely sand bone. I would probably sand the bone smooth up to 600 grit and then do a tea soak. Then I'd oil them with coconut oil and polish.
 
Stain and things like that won't penetrate too deep into the bone, but should have an effect. Dyes also work okay. Mineral oil is also used to give a little new life to old bone, but I'd do that after any dying or coloring.

And pics, we like pics, especially before and after pics.
 
I didn't think about the boiling. That sounds like a good plan. I'm thinking sanding with 600 grit and boil in dye. I don't have pics right now. The knife is currently in a box at my daughters house. I'll have here bring it with her when she comes here for Christmas dinner. I'll be sure to get pics. I know how much we all like eye candy here. :D
Thank you gents.
 
BigBiscuit said:
I didn't think about the boiling. That sounds like a good plan. I'm thinking sanding with 600 grit and boil in dye. I don't have pics right now. The knife is currently in a box at my daughters house. I'll have here bring it with her when she comes here for Christmas dinner. I'll be sure to get pics. I know how much we all like eye candy here. :D
Thank you gents.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't boil it, it might warp the bone. Just sand it and dip in a mineral based dye.
 
NO Boiling. Fiebings leather dye and for nourishment I use coconut oil. I have closed tight cracks in ebony using coconut oil, works great on old bone too.

Best regards

Robin
 
right right. Boiling is not typically recommended. It can warp the bone - i should have mentioned that. I've done a low simmer on a couple users that were replaceable, but as others have noted its hard to control. Fiebings looks like it works great though. Jut haven't picked any up myelf, and and sometimes my patience is not there, while teabags are. Good luck
 
Depending upon the value of the knife as is, or if you have the patience for it, old smooth bone scales can be sanded and jigged as well. I've done this with a carbide cutting bit in my dremel with decent enough results, but I've found that sanding before hand, then jigging, and then sanding again gives the best results, something along the lines of Case Pocketworn scales. Just remember that less is quite often more when it comes to jigging, depending upon the jigging pattern.

Good luck, and I too would like to see you get some before and after pics, if for no other reason than bragging rights if anyone asks you about them later:D
 
Hi BB,just wanted to show you what Fiebings leather dye can do (Results vary, depending on the bone and the age)
The opinel is Moose antler,very dry, sanded to white and dyed with dark brown oil and medium brown spirit based.
The fixed blade was pure white deer antler, very dry, and also dyed with the same dye colours.
As other have said, a light sanding before the dye and a polish sanding after it dries. I use coconut oil as a finish.

Have fun
Best regards

Robin

As you can see it also dyes human leather :D
 
Thank you all so much for the tips. You're giving me the confidence to try it out. As I mentioned, the knife doesn't hold a big monetary value, so it'll be a good project knife to work with.
Robin, those turned out fantastic! Very nice work my friend.
 
@ Pipeman
Why coconut oil ?
Personally I have found "nut" oils to go rancid over time & exposure. Wondering what merits you have found for using as a finishing oil & if there is a process you are using / doing that stabilizes that oil?
Regards,
Chris
 
One thing I use that really makes a big difference on the looks of knife handles, especially bone and stag, is Renaissance Wax. It is a micro-crystalline non-pigmented wax. It doesn't take much, and can really bring out the beauty and shine of natural handles. Just rub a very small amount on, let it dry for a minute or so, then buff to a shine with a soft cloth. It will also clean and degrease a little. I love the stuff.

A similar product is Walker Wax, which at one point you could get from Derrick Bohn at KSF but I don't think he carries it currently.

My suggestion would be to use some alcohol on a clean rag to clean off any grease or grime first, then Ren Wax or Walker Wax to polish it up. I recommend the 200ML can (about the size of half a cola can) for under $20, and should last in normal use for maybe 5-10 years depending on how many knives you have and how often you wax them.
 
Robin...i think your work ROCKS brother...I just Love looking at your results - fantastic stuff.

Pipeman said:
Hi BB,just wanted to show you what Fiebings leather dye can do (Results vary, depending on the bone and the age)
The opinel is Moose antler,very dry, sanded to white and dyed with dark brown oil and medium brown spirit based.
The fixed blade was pure white deer antler, very dry, and also dyed with the same dye colours.
As other have said, a light sanding before the dye and a polish sanding after it dries. I use coconut oil as a finish.

Have fun
Best regards

Robin

As you can see it also dyes human leather :D
Click to expand...
 
The knife doesn't hold a lot of collector value. It's just one I like:o
Isn't that where the value is? I mean I don't collect ones that I don't like.

Lemon oil -they use on guitar frets is good to give bone handles a bit of a lift.
But a good clean with a toothbrush and some metho would work wonders too.
maybe that's all it needs.
I have dyed a bone handled Case with RIT dye which invloves boiling water. There was no damage to the knife and the resultant dye job was great.
cheers.
 
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