Question about "stone" for handle material

[Burchtree]

What are some good semi-clear "stones" that can be used for a 1-inch spacer in a knife?

 

[Burchtree]

Well I did a little checking myself, and found Ritillated Quartz, Striped Agate, and Amber (the type with "grain" or imperfections.)

Anyone have experience with these, or where I can get a piece?

 

[John Andrews]

Mike, funny you should ask! I got started on some fossilized coral and opened a can of happy worms. I'm now having a guy cutting and polishing some for myself and some other makers. One problem, the guy does it part time, so it's a slow process of getting it. So I bought some diamond tooling to do some of it myself, so I can cut down on the time. The coral is great looking stuff, but hard as agate, which it has actually fossilized into. If you want to know more, e mail me, oldhickory45@yahoo.com and I will give you more info and also let you know what is involved.

 

[rlinger]

I have lately been wanting to find some amber. I have seen some on Ebay but none I thought dimensionally large enough. If you run across a reasonable source please let me know.

Thanks.

Roger

 

[Daniel Koster]

Has anybody ever tried petrified wood? Seems less fragile that most rocks. The stuff I have won't even chip.

 

[Burchtree]

Never even thought of that Pendative, but a good idea. I'm not sure if it would work though. I'm not sure how the grain structure is on those things it might be "silty." I have no idea though, let us know if you end up working with some.

Rlinger -- oddly enough, I think I'm going to go to Silver Dollar City in Branson to check out some "gems." I remember when I was there last time there was a shop that had plenty of rough-shaped gems and such.

But, if anyone has an internet source, please pipe in so I don't have to go to Branson!

 

[Danbo]

Go on down to Branson and fight the crowd. It's only 30 miles away from you.

 

[Mike Hull]

Amber.
http://www.thaigem.com/shopping/gem...e=amber&group_main_id=2&zone_id=1&engine=over

http://www.dominos.com.pl/

http://www.drabik.com.pl/

http://www.balticshop.com/amber.html

http://www.amberworld.com/

 

[Burchtree]

Thanks Mike, you always come through with an answer.

 

[Steve Hayden]

It come in various grades. Some of the best amber comes from the Baltic area.

There is a lot of low grade, just slightly fossilized Pitch called copal on the internet. This is transitional detween pitch and amber.

I have used both amber and copal for spacers with varying success. Many pieces will break (shatter) when you are drilling them. I like the baltic amber better because it is darker and tends to be a little tougher. I have broken some of every type I've tried.

 

[John Andrews]

Dan, I've been looking over a bunch of petrified wood. Most of it is not worth using, but a small % is not bad, and some even has opalized. I've been checking out fire agate, also. That stuff you gotta see to beleive.I have one rough fire agate to cut, and access to a bunch more. Tomorrow I check to see if your stones are finished.

 

[C L Wilkins]

Another source for amber would be:
Masecrafts
254 Amity St.
PO Box 423
Meriden CT 06450
800.682.5489

If doing other gems and whatnot then lapidary equipment is required. I have seen some of D'Holder's knives and he has used stone on some of them.

Craig

 

[John Andrews]

Amber sound really great. And how about some of the amber with bugs in it? Spiders and mosquitoes, ants,beetles, all kinds of cool stuff. Beleive it or not, the bugs in the amber are not petrified, just sealed in. DNA can be removed from the insects. Just another conversation point for a knife that would include this material.

 

[Burchtree]

I hadn't thought about that until I saw some of Mr. Hull's links -- a lot of those have the "buggy" amber.

I'm going to shoot you an e-mail monday about doing this "stone" stuff.

 

[John Andrews]

Sounds Great, Mike.

 

[blgoode]

hor hard is Corian to work with?

 

[Daniel Koster]

quite the old thread you replied to Brian...

but the answer to your question is that Corian is easy to cut and machines just like stabilized woods.

 

[blgoode]

Ive been doing a little digging around this morning

 

[Polock]

How about some cultured marble? 4" SS blade, 8 3/4" OAL

http://www.internetbusinesslinks.net/cgi-bin/album.pl?photo=PaulD/1.jpg

From a broken door sill, used an abrasive wheel in my table saw(you need a dust collector) Then normal files, sandpaper and buffing compounds. Got to go slow so you don't chip it but marble is fairly soft. Will chip out if drilled, use carbide or diamond bits.

 

[peter nap]

Like Polock said, you can do it without special tools. Bruce E. And I bought some fossil whale bone a while back. I cut mine up to make handles. They weren't pretty and smelled like an Atlanta Mens room in July :barf:

I had to soak them in woodsaver just to seal the smell in.

Just work them very slowly and hold your breath.