- Joined
- Dec 20, 2000
- Messages
- 578
I had one each of a wooden and horn handle Khukuri that needed repairing of lateral cracks, so decided to get out the tools and be done with it.
I used the technique of hose clamps to close the cracks while the epoxy/adhesive set up. I don't know if everyone knows this, but it's a good idea to coat the surface of the hose clamp with vaseline so that it won't stick to the expoxy and cause all sorts of problems. When I was done gluing up the wood handled Khukuri, I was left with a surface that had been penetrated by the epoxy, as well as the areas that he expoxy had to fill in and glue. Since I'm not one to get real "progressive" in my finishes, I decided to clean up only those areas that were obviously affected by the epoxy, so I got out the tool makers files (best $25 I ever spent on files) and proceded to recut the grooves and lines, especially around the handle ring. I also used a set of gunsmith files to remove most of the excess adhesive. Starting with medium grade sand paper, I evened out the surface, and gave everything including the unworked areas a one over with crocus cloth to make the surface the same texture. Now comes the magic!! I found this stuff called Flecto Varathane Elite Diamond Wood Stain in "Cherry". It matches the original color of the wood, and by preping the wood to the same texture, there are no obvious shiny or dull spots. This stain seals and is also waterbased. So now I had a repaired and refinished handle. Time spent: 2 nights gluing, 1.5 hours refinishing.
The horn handle was even faster! I found this stuff called J&B Weld for Steel. Depending on how you mix the expoxy and hardener, it comes out light to very dark grey. Using the same technique of hose clamping, I was left with some filled cracks that look suspiciously like grey streaks in the handle. Depending on how you want the handle to feel and look, you can be quick and efficienct by using a "scotch bright" pad for a dull but attractive utilitarian finsih, a la Brent Van Zanen (he suggested this in one of his posts, and it ain't half bad). Or you can get real aggressive, break out the fine sand paper, and then finish with the polishing/buffing wheel on your bench machine or dremel tool. And it really looks like grey streaked horn!
Any way, that's been my experience and qualified success.
------------------
Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer
Movement, transcends movement, transcends thought--Zazen Mantra
I used the technique of hose clamps to close the cracks while the epoxy/adhesive set up. I don't know if everyone knows this, but it's a good idea to coat the surface of the hose clamp with vaseline so that it won't stick to the expoxy and cause all sorts of problems. When I was done gluing up the wood handled Khukuri, I was left with a surface that had been penetrated by the epoxy, as well as the areas that he expoxy had to fill in and glue. Since I'm not one to get real "progressive" in my finishes, I decided to clean up only those areas that were obviously affected by the epoxy, so I got out the tool makers files (best $25 I ever spent on files) and proceded to recut the grooves and lines, especially around the handle ring. I also used a set of gunsmith files to remove most of the excess adhesive. Starting with medium grade sand paper, I evened out the surface, and gave everything including the unworked areas a one over with crocus cloth to make the surface the same texture. Now comes the magic!! I found this stuff called Flecto Varathane Elite Diamond Wood Stain in "Cherry". It matches the original color of the wood, and by preping the wood to the same texture, there are no obvious shiny or dull spots. This stain seals and is also waterbased. So now I had a repaired and refinished handle. Time spent: 2 nights gluing, 1.5 hours refinishing.
The horn handle was even faster! I found this stuff called J&B Weld for Steel. Depending on how you mix the expoxy and hardener, it comes out light to very dark grey. Using the same technique of hose clamping, I was left with some filled cracks that look suspiciously like grey streaks in the handle. Depending on how you want the handle to feel and look, you can be quick and efficienct by using a "scotch bright" pad for a dull but attractive utilitarian finsih, a la Brent Van Zanen (he suggested this in one of his posts, and it ain't half bad). Or you can get real aggressive, break out the fine sand paper, and then finish with the polishing/buffing wheel on your bench machine or dremel tool. And it really looks like grey streaked horn!
Any way, that's been my experience and qualified success.
------------------
Watakushi Wa Shinajin Desu
DeathDancer
Movement, transcends movement, transcends thought--Zazen Mantra
