Smoothing chipped elk antler scales?

MTHall720

MTHall720

Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
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I have a beautiful Buck 110 custom with elk antler scales which I dropped today resulting in a little chip out of it. being my usual OCD self I am agonizing over this. I was wondering how to minimize the appearance of the fairly small chip such as smoothing with hand rub bing wet 1200 grit sandpaper.
All ideas appreciated.
My first thought was do my best to make it look good and then never take out of the house again but I am the type who wants to take my folders and carry them.
 
Pics?

I would try. Surgically sand the divot/chip (the hole, avoid surrounding/lip if you can) with 220grit. Surgically clean the hole with denatural alcohol or acetone. Put a tiny of thin or medium CA in the divot, 400 wet sand (yes, sand while super glue still wet) to mix antler dust with CA. Wait to dry or spray accelerant/quick-cure. Repeat wet sand CA, until the patch almost level with the surrounding area.
 
Thank you. I don't have the knife with me right now for pics but can take some when I get homem
 
The general idea of superglue and antler dust sounds fine but id rather see photos before giving an opinion. How valuable is the knife btw?
 
About $225.00 I believe. LE for. Buck Custom. For me it is a valuable piece but also has great sentimental value since it is an anniversary gift from my wife.
 
Need to be very careful with it then! Might be worth finding a restoration company with a good reputation and paying them to do it?
 
MTHall720 said:
About $225.00 I believe. LE for. Buck Custom. For me it is a valuable piece but also has great sentimental value since it is an anniversary gift from my wife.
Click to expand...

Being that it's a Buck (assuming their own custom work?), have you considered getting in touch with them? They might be able to 'spa' the chip back into shape, if it's relatively small. Don't know if they'd be able to replace the stag, if that's necessary. But you might have a better chance than is typical among factory makers, in going back to them for help. May have to pay some for it, but it may still be worthwhile.

That said, if you can post some clear pics of the chip, it still may be relatively easy to sand it out on your own. Some pics will help generate some more specific tips that may not be so complicated.

(I have a couple of Buck 112s with elk antler, from their own Custom Shop.)


David
 
The chip that came out was never found.
I finally have the picture which shows what it looks like.
This was a custom from the Buck custom shop.
Buck110ElkWounded.jpg
 
Might contact Buck. I'd think they could sand/re-shape the corner where that chip came out. Should also be relatively easy to do yourself, if you want to. But, in the case of this knife and it's value ($$ and sentimental), it may be worth letting Buck do it, if they're willing to. They might even have access to the materials needed to refill the divot and sand/polish it into shape. If they do the work, I'd think it'll also come with some warranty coverage as well. I'd at least ask them to be sure.


David
 
You could sand it out if the rounded corner wouldn't bother you.

What id do is buy a piece of elk antler on ebay, rough up the chip with the tip of a knife or sandpaper if you can get a tiny piece in there then clean it very well with isopropyl alcohol or similar. Sand down your spare piece of antler on a section that matches the colour of your handle (no rougher than 240 grit paper) until you have a nice pile of antler dust and then mix that with good epoxy until you have a paste and spread it in the chip carefully. You can do multiple applications until your chip is filled and slightly proud of the surrounding area and then carefully sand it down until it matches. Assuming no contamination and that you get the right shade of antler it should be a seamless repair.

Obviously mask off the rest of the knife carefully so you don't get any epoxy finger marks anywhere else!
 
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