What should I use to fill holes in madrone burl?

Belstain

Belstain

Joined
Sep 17, 1999
Messages
320
I found a large burl today that i would like to use for knife handles but it has little cracks and air pockets all over. what should i use to fill these holes up? should i do that before i shape the handle out of it or should i make the handle then filll any gaps?

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I'm a Schizophrenic and so am I
 
I've got some eucalyptus with the same problem. I would think it best to shape the handles then fill the holes. I will probably use epoxy with black pigment or even some gold in it to fill the holes. If you've got some extra it might be a good idea to try some things to see what looks best. If no extra you could try them on the back sides of the slabs.

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
yeah i have lots of extra (it was about a 150 lbs burl) some of the cracks are over 1/8 wide- it seems to be little air bubbles that formed as the burl grew that are the problem

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I'm a Schizophrenic and so am I
 
You can fill those holes with any furniture grade wood putty after the handle is shaped. Home Depot has a nice selection of colors. You might have to fill them twice since most of this stuff tends to shrink, but when it's done it will look like a normal part of the figure. I've found that darker colors tend to look best.

It's good to apply some kind of finish afterwards to seal everything in there.
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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
The Tom & Jerry Show

[This message has been edited by GaKnife (edited 09-20-2000).]
 
I've got ironwood with little cracks and gaps as you described.

A thought that just occurred to me.... Does anyone know how to fill those little holes with silver or gold or something glittery like that? It might look nice to have the holes stand out in the wood instead of trying to hide them.
 
CJ, Jantz sells a kit called Bonanza Gold, it might come in silver too but I'm not sure. I've used it on steel where engraving was done and it looked great. You just use the cleaner that comes with the kit, then apply the adherent which also comes with the kit, I think it's just lacquer, and then put a little of the gold pigment on it and rub it in. Then clean away the excess and all thats left is in the cracks or crevices. I've never tried it on wood, but I'm sure it would fill small cracks and pin holes easily.

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
:
I read about a guy using cholla cactus wood for a handle. It's not just porous, but looks like Swiss Cheese. He mixed up a lot of colored epoxy and dunked the handle in it until it cured. Then he broke off the excess epoxy and finished the handle.
There was also one done with slab handles, but I don't recall how that was done.
If your interested drop me an e-mail and I will try and find the article for you. If I get several e-mails then I will post it here.
It may have been in The Gun Digest Book of Knives that was printed a long time ago. I still have it as well as several of the Knives'** books. I am almost positive it was in one of them.




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>>>>---¥vsa---->®

"There's no trick in being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you."

...............Will Rogers......

Khukuri FAQ
 
Yeah, I think I will try that wood filler tomorrow. What type of stains work best with madrone?

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I'm a Schizophrenic and so am I
 
The atricle about the Cholla cactus handles was in the April/May '93 issue of Blade. Written by Butch & Judy Beaver.

I had the opportunity to see some of his blades at a show in Los Angeles. He had put some turquoise nuggets in the voids of the cactus material. Looked pretty spiffy.

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Glen AKA Centaur
"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
- Isaac Newton

[This message has been edited by Centaur (edited 09-22-2000).]
 
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