Old Hickory Kephart Modification Tutorial - Finished!

[tholiver]

Talfuchre heres my My Old Hickory Nessmuck

 

[jkulysses]

Sand back the wood to remove all epoxy and sand back the handle until you are satisfied with its finish (I brought it back to 320 grit) and clean the handle with a slightly damp rag to remove all dust - this raises the grain slightly - so that you can lightly sand it with 0000 steel wool - or 400 to 600 grit sandpaper.

Once this is done - you can stain the wood as you like it - and then seal it as you like it. However, as I am showing Curly Maple I want to tell you how I did mine.

Curly Maple does not take stain well as it is SO very dense. Often it must be dyed. However, there is another method: Acid!

I simply dropped some LCD and waited for the handle to change colors. RADICAL BRO!!!

Okay - not that type of acid.

Nitric Acid or Ferrous Acetate reacts with the tannins in the wood in order to change it to a deep brown or black (the process to make Ferrous Acetate can be found here and Nitric Acid can be found here for use on Maple. (Don't hurt yourself making, using, or dropping acid.)

After making some Ferrous Acetate I used it on my scales. It turns them a rusty brownish grey - and may make you sad. Don't fret partner - sand it back and you will see how the stripes that are softer absorbed the "dye" and have turned it a deep brown. For the highest contrast - sand it to 320 leaving the dark dark and the light light and add your finish.

In my case - I wanted to add a little depth. I used some Minwax Red Mahogany and stained it. After it dried I sanded it back (lighter and carefully with 320 grit)

then stained it again with some Golden Oak.

I then wiped this down and buffed it - and then put two or three coats of Tung oil on the handle allowing each coat to dry in between.

Here is what it looked like:

That is it - finished. I will get some final specs of it up tomorrow - but as she stands - she is shaving sharp and ready for a set of pants and then the field.

Well - hell... I decided to force a patina - so - I took a few shots of that process as well.

First - I taped up the handle portion as I didn't want the scales to be effected by the vinegar. I soaked a paper towel in white vinegar and wrapped it into a rope like configuration. I then wrapped than around the handle (do not squish it down) and set it in the sink for a few hours.

It came out looking pretty beat up - but I knew this was simply surface patina and I grabbed some 400 grit and lightly polished it back.

Here it is as it stands today:

Thanks,

TF

Wow I really love how that knife turned out! Looks so good I would love to have one like that. I might have to try something like this someday.

 

[Kisatchie]

Talfuchre heres my My Old Hickory Nessmuck

that's a good looking knife too!! i'd like to see a thread on how you remake one like that as well.

 

[DocGP]

You have also inspired me to attempt a Kephart Fisher. Going to try to fine a decent starter blade for that.

Doc

 

[tholiver]

Thanks (in reply to Kisatchie). There's a thread here on how to do that actually, that's where i got the idea.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...y-Nessmuk-Project?highlight=nessmuck+tutorial