Polishing Brass Bolster/Wood Handle Intersection

[WinDancer]

I am having trouble getting a good, clean polish where the bolsters and handles meet. The brass gives up enough material to discolor the handles.

I have even tried bran-new never used wheels and still get the contamination. Tried several different compounds with no change. Tried using tape on the bolsters, but then the clean lines at the joint are gone.

This happens with both wood and stag. I prefer just a good heavy carnuba finish on my scales. This mess is taking away from the beauty of the knives.

Can anyone help with this?

THANKS!
Dave Evans


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WinDancer@OlyWa.net

Large selection of Buck 110s for sale www.olywa.net/windancer/webknives.htm




[This message has been edited by WinDancer (edited 09 October 1999).]

 

[L6steel]

DAVE, what handle materials are you using? Anything thats real grainy, if you don't seal and smooth it out first, will get a build up of buffing compound in the grain that makes it look dirty or antiqish. If you're using wood, find the thread where instruction in finishing wood with super glue is given. Its extremely helpful and informative. Take care! Michael

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"

 

[george tichbourne]

I always prefinish my bolsters before gluing the wood handle on to reduce the work in this junction area.
When I get to final finishing I buff from the wood toward the brass to reduce contamination. If I am using a light coloured handle material I prefinish the handle with super glue to seal the pores before buffing.
The last thing that I do to minimize the problem is to use white buffing compound on my wood handles, it stains less.
A good going over afterward with a paste wax helps float dirt out of the pores, I use Renaissance wax for this but others work as well.
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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com



[This message has been edited by george tichbourne (edited 09 October 1999).]

 

[DanL]

Tape the bolsters first, then buff the handles. Then tape the handles and buff the bolsters, it works good on dymon-wood.

 

[tim wagendorp]

I recently discussed this problem with a dutch knifemaker. He suggested using a dremel tool (the little high speed drilling machines) with a metal polishing attachment. Protect the handle with masking tape and polish the guard, then reverse the procedure. It's usefull to keep one buffer for wood, an other for brass, steel etc.
If you add a spacer between the guard and wood, it's easier.

 

[Ansoknives]

I finish my woodhandles with Danishoil. I do this before polishing. If any metal in the handle mess up the wood I clean it off with more oil.
Made a leatherhandel with aluminium but. The alu turned turned the leather all black and dirty. I used the maskingtape solution here. There were several spacer between the materials so it was no problem.

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Jens Anso, ansoknives@hotmail.com
(check out my homepage)
home6.inet.tele.dk/ansoe/ansoknives