T-88 Epoxy...Where?...Lime Juice and Cocobolo Question

J

JRiefer

Joined
Jan 20, 2000
Messages
29

I would appreciate some help. A lot of you say T-88, Micro-bed and Acra-glas (Brownells) are the best wood to metal adhesives. Where can I purchase T-88?

Next question...will soaking in lime juice give a black parkerized finish to a stainless blade?

Question #3...has anyone any suggestions where to buy lighter colored red-orange highly figured cocobolo blocks? Most of the material that I have received is dark and straight grained. I know the suppliers try their best.

Finally, which is the best for grinding and shaping my first blade project...my bench grinder or my bench belt and disk sander? I'm starting with a 12" smooth file. If successful, I'll be trying Sheffields P.G. ATS34.

This is my first post here, if it's too long, please let me know. This is a fantastic forum. Thanks to all.

Joe



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Joe
 
1) dunno, I use accraglass

2) I doubt it, but anything is possible.

3) if you are buying readymade blocks or scales by mail, good luck. You're getting about what everybody else does. If you are willing to buy a board or chunk and cut it up, you get a lot more control over quality. Try the guys at www.anexotichardwood.com They have a webcam, and can show you the actual piece you get in real time. Eisenbrands hardwoods at www.eisenbran.com have a good reputation, but I've never used them.

James

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I love my country! I just don't trust my government!
 
answers above are good....the best place to get t88 would be at a carpenter or woodworking supply store or at a boat supplies place.....i would try the lime juice but basically all you are doing is making it rust.....you need to go look at cocobolo to get the stuff you like, and finally, i would stick with the belt/disc sander...safer and better finish/grind.

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
As far as Cocobola goes, "most" of it I have come across is straight grained. I am fortunate with Texas Knifemakers Supply and a Woodcraft store being in the area where I am able to hand pick the scales. As far as a lighter wood, I have heard (I haven't done it yet) that wood bleach works wonders. It can be found at your local hardware stores. I have looked for it at the "hardware superstores" like Home Depot or Lowe's and they don't have anything like that.

C Wilkins
 
all cocobolo starts off light, and darkens after time, actually pretty quickly, i'd like to know i way of stoping the darkening too.
 
There's a fellow down Mexico way who deals in this stuff..has Gawdawful gorgeous blocks & slabs of ironwood burl...honey-colored. He's got ray skins too!
His address is: http://www.desertironwood.com
And I don't have a vested interest, just a satisfied customer!
Harry
 
i used desert ironwood on a christmas present knife. the wood is beautiful. it's a little expensive but well worth the costs. i buy all of my exotic hardwoods in large boards, usually 5-6 feet long. i couldn't even find any desert ironwood that big, becuase it's very rare. i settled on a block 20"x5"x2". it's hard to find so if you stumble upon a big, good looking peice, buy it!

[This message has been edited by magnum .44 (edited 01-21-2000).]
 
Thanks for all your replies. You're sure right on the cocobolo. I bought enough coco recently to build a garage... unfortunately only two were super pieces. My wife wasn't too happy with U.P.S. ringing our doorbell every day for two weeks either. Soon we'll start buying food again.

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Joe
 
I get my T-88 at Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Company http://www.aircraft-spruce.com/

I got my first supply from the company that I bought my Ultralight Aircraft plans from.

It it used in planes and boats a lot.
IMHO it is the best stuff. I know Acra-glas is very good stuff but this stuff is used to hold plans together and people trust there lives to it and if they can trust there lives I surly can trust it to hold on some handles on a knife.
smile.gif


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-Greg Johnson
ICQ#4236341

 
Here is a tip from a seemingly pretty knowledgable guy that works at Woodcrafters.

To keep wood from darkening, spray it with AromourAll (like you use for your car's interior). He said the UV protector in it works on wood also. Just wipe down your wood, let it dry and then finish as usuall.

I have not tried this myself.
 
make yourself a floor from your cocobolo.
some companies sell uv protectant, made for wood. you can put it in laquer.
 
Magnum,
Ironwood isn't quite as rare as people make it out to be. The major problem is the way it grows. The trees grow very slowly and crooked,so its hard to find straight peices that are more than about 4" in diameter and a couple feet long. Another factor is the hardness of it. My dad cut a few of them down a long time ago and said that it completely ate every chain he had for his chainsaw. There were actually sparks flying off as he cut it, hence the name ironwood.You may be better off trying to buy it in small chunks, since their easier to find.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
i have a source for farely large chunks. since i do my own resawing and scale cutting i go for the biggest peice i can find, that is crack free. it's rare to find big chucnks i should have said. the trees themselvs aren't that rare.
what types of hardwoods do you use on your
handles? do you buy large boards and resaw them, or do you buy small scales? your lucky that you could get a whole ironwood tree, not that ofter you find one of them.
i think i'm gonna spring for the JET 18" bandsaw, and put a 1 1/2" wide carbide tipped blade on it. use it just for resawing and ripping large boards.

[This message has been edited by magnum .44 (edited 01-21-2000).]
 
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