Snakewood problems!!

[dfarmerknives]

Would you use the superglue after tung oil?? How would the tung oil react with the glue???

 

[howiesatwork]

Superglue works great on woods. I don't think I's put it over tung oil, but if you must, wait until the tung oil is fully cured (about a week).

 

[godogs57]

ddavelarsen,

Can you use the superglue on Cocobolo? I like to use it on the plain vanilla knives but hate that the open pores gather the buffing compound and make it look like crap. Thanks in advance

Hank

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

I don't know if WSSI will stabilize it, or it will have a real benefit from the process.

Mike at WSSI told us the wood must be .375" or thinner, .250" is better for stabilization. The biggest problem with stabilizing is getting it to or below 12% moisture content. We've had snakewood go through several kiln batches over several months to reduce the moisture. It does not like to release its water!

I use superglue alot as a finish and it seems to me that if its completly coated then it shouldnt move. You need a gas mask to use it though.

Try the odorless superglue. It is more expensive but well worth it. It also dries clear rather than turning white when sprayed with accelerant. I won't use stinky superglue any more.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

With dense woods and ivory the "shrinking" is often not a moisture problem,but a temperature one.When grinding and polishing these items (Snakewood is especially notorious) they expand quite a bit.After a while (from a day or two to a week) they start to return to normal and there is always that little lip of metal on the tang.Hand sand it down and you will be fine.
Super glue (cyanoacrylic) works well on sealing snakewood.It is a good idea to seal the backside of the wood and flat sand it by hand before assembling the scales to the tang.After the handle is sanded to final shape and at 220 grit,coat the surface with the super glue (the ultra-thin variety is the best) until no more soaks in.Let dry overnight (I don't use accelerator here,too much heat created),and sand away the excess.Finish by hand.No need to put on any tung oil.Just a little Brix wax or Renaissance will keep it bright.Snakewood is beautiful,but it can be frustrating.

 

[truckee]

I'll try the odorless again if you can use the accelerant without the white. Its just that the last time I used (odorless) it it crazed on me. Thats been a few years ago though and it mught have changed since then. Being able to use the accelerant is going to be sweet, cut an already quick finish time way down.