Questions concerning the Cocobolo Bushcrafter I just purchased.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
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1) How is the Cocobolo treated? Did you seal it with anything - can I or should I treat the wood with a little Tung oil or something?

2) How would you recommend treating the leather sheath? Should I seal that or rub in some oil or grease or something? What would you recommend.

3) I have a 1st generation Kydex sheath that I would like to keep because the third generation still fits - but very tight. I am thinking I can simply stick the new knife in and heat up the kydex to get it to form to the new knife - is that so? If so, can you recommend the right tools and process to do this?

Thanks so much,

TF
 
1 - cocobolo is naturally stable. In fact, it resists oiling. Feel free to rub tung oil (or whatever else) onto it. Within a day or two it will sweat it all back out. :foot:

That, actually, is why I really like it. ;)

2 - Personally, I give my JRE sheaths a mineral oil bath....more of a "sponge bath" than a dunking, though. :D It turns it all dark brown and helps prevent rust inside the sheath.
Any leather-care product is going to work. Just remember it might change the color!

3 - Yes. You can actually use a hair-dryer to alter the kydex sheath - though a heat-gun is best/fastest. Pass the heat-source back and forth over the spot you want to re-mold (only do one side at a time) until it starts to soften. With a heat-gun, I count to about 14 and it's ready...with a hair-dryer...definitely going to take longer. Don't get too close (about 2-3 inches is fine as long as you keep moving). When it's pliable (and while wearing gloves or using hot pads) squeeze the sheath into it's new position. When I was a newbie...I used an ice cube to help the kydex cool faster. Works great. (now I let the kydex press do the work for me :D)

Dan
 
Thanks so much for the quick reply.

Does it make sense at all to put the knife in the sheath and then heat it up with the hair dryer? It is VERY close to being correct now.

TF
 
ok - sorry I didn't see your reply - I don't jump on the forums on the weekends as much.

For future reference (or anyone else reading this) - don't heat it up with the knife in the sheath - good chance of ruining the handle material. Just make sure the kydex is flexible and move quickly. :D


Dan
 
TF all that sounds like a LOT of stress that you don't need. Best just pack that baby up and send it to me.
 
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