Thin CA finish on non stabilized wood?

Kieran Klein

Kieran Klein

Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
266
I am trying out stabilized wood for handles. We'll the first stuff I bought was "non resin stabilized" which was cheap on ebay. My bad the price was too good. Anyway the best I can tell it is kiln dried wood super flat and hasn't moved or cracked in the month I have had it.


Now my main question is can I use thin ca to fill the pores/grain to harden it up? The wood is redwood burl so it is soft.

I have bought wood off burl source and is way better and very nice. Should I use abandon this other wood and write it off?
 
You can install the scales as they are and sand to just shy of the final size. Once the handle is 95% shaped, use thin CA and repeatedly flood the wood. Flood with the resin and let dry for a day. Sand lightly to expose the wood surface, and repeat. Do this every day for a week and then finish sanding the handle. Take up to 2000 or higher grit and hand buff with a flannel or wool cloth. It will be gorgeous. What you don't want is a coating of CA over the wood....you want it IN the wood.
 
That's what I was hoping to do is fill the wood so the ca is actually in the wood not on top. Thanks very much for the information. Glad I didn't waste my money.

What grit should I stop sanding at to then flood with ca? 150 or 320?
 
What is a good type/brand of CA for this, as there are soooo many types and brands out there it's hard to know what each is good for, like on usaknifemaker for example.. any suggestions? Also how do you thin it out, or is it just a thin type of CA? I'd like to use this technique as well cause I have some unstabilized scales and blocks of curly maple, bocote, and walnut. Im too poor for stabilized woods at the moment :o Thanks! :)

-Paul
 
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Thanks for that, Stacy. I did misread that a bit but I learned from your way of doing a CA treatment.
 
Use the thinnest available. Most woodworking suppliers, and many knife suppliers, sell it in larger bottles. Get a bunch of extra tips and change them as needed to keep the bottle from getting clogged at the tip.

Mega Tip:
Having 2oz. poly dropper bottles around to transfer the contents of the large bottle into is also a good idea. You can buy these cheaply by the dozen or the case. Use the smaller bottle to apply the CA, and when it is empty or clogged up...toss it. This allows buying the CA in large bottles at a much lower price. Bottles of thin CA have a pretty long shelf like if kept cool and out of sunlight.

Just the first search I came up with - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plastic-Dro...159?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338f72795f
 
sweet! Thanks Stacy :)

(btw thanks for that extra info on the thermocouple/ forge muffle. :thumbup: )

-Paul
 
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