pros and cons of mineral oil for bone handles

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I was told by GEC to wipe down wood handles with mineral oil as well. I have some older wood handles that appear to be drying out. I did use Feed N Wax but it actually dulled the 30yr old rosewood on one knife.
 
I realize this is an old thread but still an interesting topic today so here's my two cents. I use mineral oil on stag and bone, and I soak/submerge the fixed knife handles or entire pocketknives in it for 24 hours, sometimes longer as with a rehandled 100+ year old L.F.&C. penknife to get close to that same age appearance. But that's just me so, don't ask me why. ;)

IMHO, I happen to like the yellowish darker look and sometimes transparent effect on bone - to a lesser effect on stag. To me that darker appearance and glow gives it a more desired -- than not -- antiquated look. It helps with dry, brittle bone and stag handles, and sometimes helps close cracks, and gaps from shrinkage. In other words, it's a little more helpful than cosmetics. But as with all things that were once alive it will all eventually breaks down to dust or... sludge? :) And thus, if left untreated with something as safe as mineral oil -- which can be consumed by humans -- that can seep in, it will eventually need a new handles anyway as any surface treatment will not effectively enough hydrate either material.

This is one topic that reminds me of another that is just as debatable and as unresolved - Patina on carbon steel. Does it protect from "bad rust" or not? I tend to believe that it does....but it may not. And since there's no metallurgists around well, in the meantime, I'll just go with my gut instinct and preference - hydrate over not -- as I like the darkening glow and helps with cracks and gaps -- and patina coating over shiny bright naked steel, as I like a nice patina on carbon steel anyway. :)
 
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Not a metallurgist, but have been repairing cutlery for 45 years.
Handles don't need "hydrating."
 
DM, This may be an ancient topic but not an obsolete one. There is still ongoing concerns with many knife enthusiasts on this important topic with regards to knives and knife collectors.

Hello Bill, My name Felix. It's a pleasure. :) We are all entitled to our opinions and this is nothing personal but I must humbly disagree. I believe that stag which was once an antler and a living part of a deer, was once hydrated through the living animal itself and once cut off the dead animal it begins to dehydrate at a faster rate.

Below is a cut from International Knife Collectors Association. I found it while doing a search on the pros and cons of mineral oil on stag and bone handles. I found this and another BF thread as well while doing that search. [[The other thread got closed by some narrow minded moderator (Esav Benyamin) who apparently doesn't believe that forums are by Definition: a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged. If BF is against this definition of what forums are meant for then I do not want any part of it and they can ban me if they stand by him and his personal views which likely includes the collection of, in my opinion, an inferior knife brand. And if by chance BF is influenced by money, or otherwise, to support a certain knife brand then this whole site is like Esav Benyamin himself - TAINTED. But with all due respect to BF, that is neither here nor there at this moment. Yet, BF will eventually make a stand on the ethics that have been compromised by the said moderator. The opinion of the member Macchina, who followed mine was contrary to my comments and I respect his right to express it but it was NOT the end all of that particular discussion. He begins with "I think". With respect to Macchina as oppose to Esav Benyamin which I have none for his authoritarian attitude and can :jerkit: for all I care. I do think as well. And I for one think that Case knives are more of a collectors knife than say Camillus or Landers, Frary & Clark and that Camillus and LF&C were more of a working man's knife than Case which are nicer to just look at. And there's more but will end that discussion now and only brought it up because the other thread was forcibly closed. ]] Thank you Bill, for allow me to vent my frustrations on this matter. Now back to this topic:

The link below that is the whole topic on caring for stag and bone handles, with before and after photos that show how cracks and gaps are closed or at least narrowed.

Why Mineral Oil?

You’ve probably heard of many ways to care for stag or bone handles. From wax to various conditioners, everyone has their own method. Why mineral oil then?

In knife care, one of the fundamental principles is to be as gentle on the knife as possible. Mineral oil is colourless and almost odourless, which is necessary to preserve the characteric and tone of the bone or stag horn.

Additionally, mineral oil is neither acidic nor basic and will not eat into the bone/stag material or cause it to deteriorate. This is because oil is not water soluble and is therefore “pH neutral”.

The next best alternative is “museum wax” such as Renaissance Wax, which does a good job of preservation and inhibiting moisture but just an average job at soaking into the stag/bone material. It may also build up with repeated application and form an opaque film over time.

Stag and bone handles benefit from a periodic mineral oil treatment as they are natural materials, which will dry out if just left to the elements. Mineral oil provides the best natural treatment to soak and rehydrate stag and bone handles.

http://www.knifecollectors.org/care/stag-handles/
 
I have been using mineral oil for many years. Usually just a light coating to take off dust. dirt and light active rust. It works fine for me.

n2s
 
SolWarrior said:
DM, This may be an ancient topic but not an obsolete one. There is still ongoing concerns with many knife enthusiasts on this important topic with regards to knives and knife collectors.

Hello Bill, My name Felix. It's a pleasure. :) We are all entitled to our opinions and this is nothing personal but I must humbly disagree. I believe that stag which was once an antler and a living part of a deer, was once hydrated through the living animal itself and once cut off the dead animal it begins to dehydrate at a faster rate.

Below is a cut from International Knife Collectors Association. I found it while doing a search on the pros and cons of mineral oil on stag and bone handles. I found this and another BF thread as well while doing that search. [[The other thread got closed by some narrow minded moderator (Esav Benyamin) who apparently doesn't believe that forums are by Definition: a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged. If BF is against this definition of what forums are meant for then I do not want any part of it and they can ban me if they stand by him and his personal views which likely includes the collection of, in my opinion, an inferior knife brand. And if by chance BF is influenced by money, or otherwise, to support a certain knife brand then this whole site is like Esav Benyamin himself - TAINTED. But with all due respect to BF, that is neither here nor there at this moment. Yet, BF will eventually make a stand on the ethics that have been compromised by the said moderator. The opinion of the member Macchina, who followed mine was contrary to my comments and I respect his right to express it but it was NOT the end all of that particular discussion. He begins with "I think". With respect to Macchina as oppose to Esav Benyamin which I have none for his authoritarian attitude and can :jerkit: for all I care. I do think as well. And I for one think that Case knives are more of a collectors knife than say Camillus or Landers, Frary & Clark and that Camillus and LF&C were more of a working man's knife than Case which are nicer to just look at. And there's more but will end that discussion now and only brought it up because the other thread was forcibly closed. ]] Thank you Bill, for allow me to vent my frustrations on this matter. Now back to this topic:

The link below that is the whole topic on caring for stag and bone handles, with before and after photos that show how cracks and gaps are closed or at least narrowed.

Why Mineral Oil?

You’ve probably heard of many ways to care for stag or bone handles. From wax to various conditioners, everyone has their own method. Why mineral oil then?

In knife care, one of the fundamental principles is to be as gentle on the knife as possible. Mineral oil is colourless and almost odourless, which is necessary to preserve the characteric and tone of the bone or stag horn.

Additionally, mineral oil is neither acidic nor basic and will not eat into the bone/stag material or cause it to deteriorate. This is because oil is not water soluble and is therefore “pH neutral”.

The next best alternative is “museum wax” such as Renaissance Wax, which does a good job of preservation and inhibiting moisture but just an average job at soaking into the stag/bone material. It may also build up with repeated application and form an opaque film over time.

Stag and bone handles benefit from a periodic mineral oil treatment as they are natural materials, which will dry out if just left to the elements. Mineral oil provides the best natural treatment to soak and rehydrate stag and bone handles.

http://www.knifecollectors.org/care/stag-handles/
Click to expand...

Your comments are obviously directed at a moderator.

Regardless, you are completely wrong. Stag is not "hydrated" while on the living animal. It is exactly the same on or off the animal.
As I said, mineral oil soaks into porous stag and softens it.

Bone is actually dried out before being used, so your argument here fails, too.
Rennaissance wax is fine for articles that are not handled. It is designed to be easy to apply and easy to buff off. Paste wax is much superior.

But, you just keep on believing what you believe-rather than learning from someone who knows. Nothing personal.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Your comments are obviously directed at a moderator.

Regardless, you are completely wrong. Stag is not "hydrated" while on the living animal. It is exactly the same on or off the animal.
As I said, mineral oil soaks into porous stag and softens it.

Bone is actually dried out before being used, so your argument here fails, too.
Rennaissance wax is fine for articles that are not handled. It is designed to be easy to apply and easy to buff off. Paste wax is much superior.

But, you just keep on believing what you believe-rather than learning from someone who knows. Nothing personal.
Click to expand...

It is not exactly the same as antlers on deer keep growing and have blood vessels circulating blood running inside them, hydrating them to a point better than when cut off. I try to learn where there's learning is to be had but you dictate and not converse therefore learning is more of a problem with you than me. "Nothing personal" :yawn: Have a good one. I'm out of here.
 
SolWarrior, you seem to have several issues. Insulting anyone is not going to be tolerated, much less a moderator. Clearly you don't have a clue as to what you are saying and you are more than welcome to leave as quickly as you showed up. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.
 
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