- Joined
- Aug 7, 2014
- Messages
- 11
I'm noob here and haven't begun to scratch the surface of the massive knowledge posted here, but I thought I'd share a couple humble thoughts. Forgive me if this is covered ground.
Hot glue makes a good mask for acid etching, even with a stout mi of muriatic. Just be sure you don't leave any holes of thin spots. Colored glue sticks would be great in that regard, mine are clear. When you're finished, soak the blade overnight in lacquer thinner, the glue comes right off.
For stabilizing scales, I use an thrift store crock pot ($5) to heat the jar with scales and acrylic solution to near boiling for an hour. Then I put the tight sealing (gasketed) lid o and let it cool, creating the vacuum that pulls the stabilizer into the wood. I know a lot of guys do the same thing but on a stove or by pouring hot water around the jar. Use the crock pot instead, it is easier, safer and more steady. Put a few metal nuts or something in the bottom of the crock pot to keep the inner jar off the bottom, like a Dutch oven and fill the crock pot with water to heat the stabilizer jar.
BTW, pickle jars don't usually seal good after they are once opened, so look for half gallon Mason jars or some types of cookie jars that has a gasket in the lid. It has to hold a vacuum or the stabilizer won't penetrate very deep.
Finally, I'm sure you guys probably do this too, but flea markets/thrift stores are a source for handle raw materials. Today I picked up a nice big moose bone, a platter made of MOP and some good looking deer antlers. Picture frames could be a goldmine for nice hardwood if you can screen out the fake stuff. I was pretty excited about my burl oak picture frame today until my wife showed me where the veneer was peeling off. D'oh!
Anyway, hope this helps someone.
Hot glue makes a good mask for acid etching, even with a stout mi of muriatic. Just be sure you don't leave any holes of thin spots. Colored glue sticks would be great in that regard, mine are clear. When you're finished, soak the blade overnight in lacquer thinner, the glue comes right off.
For stabilizing scales, I use an thrift store crock pot ($5) to heat the jar with scales and acrylic solution to near boiling for an hour. Then I put the tight sealing (gasketed) lid o and let it cool, creating the vacuum that pulls the stabilizer into the wood. I know a lot of guys do the same thing but on a stove or by pouring hot water around the jar. Use the crock pot instead, it is easier, safer and more steady. Put a few metal nuts or something in the bottom of the crock pot to keep the inner jar off the bottom, like a Dutch oven and fill the crock pot with water to heat the stabilizer jar.
BTW, pickle jars don't usually seal good after they are once opened, so look for half gallon Mason jars or some types of cookie jars that has a gasket in the lid. It has to hold a vacuum or the stabilizer won't penetrate very deep.
Finally, I'm sure you guys probably do this too, but flea markets/thrift stores are a source for handle raw materials. Today I picked up a nice big moose bone, a platter made of MOP and some good looking deer antlers. Picture frames could be a goldmine for nice hardwood if you can screen out the fake stuff. I was pretty excited about my burl oak picture frame today until my wife showed me where the veneer was peeling off. D'oh!
Anyway, hope this helps someone.
