Next Up - W. H. Morley & Sons camp knife?

[rexstubbins]

It amazes me that there is such a difference in density between these 2 scales. I got them from the same source. I think these are going to have to soak for a few more days.

[Miller Bro's]

The one on the right hand side is starting to look good

[coffeecup]

It amazes me that there is such a difference in density between these 2 scales. I got them from the same source. I think these are going to have to soak for a few more days.

Fort he sake of reference, which was the one that absorbed the most oil?

[Beechtree]

Rex, you have done a fantastic job on the knife, both the work and its documentation. Great job.

[rexstubbins]

It amazes me that there is such a difference in density between these 2 scales. I got them from the same source. I think these are going to have to soak for a few more days.

Fort he sake of reference, which was the one that absorbed the most oil?

The darker one is the one that absorbed the most oil.

[rexstubbins]

Well again my luck runneth over. The vacuum chamber finally decided to crack enough to where vacuum wasn't holding anymore. You can see my attempt at non-objective art. The lids to the chamber has become increasingly simplistic the more I make.

[Shearer]

Try this to make a vacuum chamber.I made one the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DfZXM2B51Q

[rexstubbins]

Try this to make a vacuum chamber.I made one the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DfZXM2B51Q

Yeah. I saw that one.

Of course that would require me to move on to plan E. Right now I'm on Plan D.2. If D.2. fails again with more art and D.3. (Star shaped lid) fails, I'll move on to plan E.

[Miller Bro's]

If D.2. fails again with more art and D.3. (Star shaped lid) fails, I'll move on to plan E.

Try a sch 40 PVC round end cap, I doubt you will crack that. Only thing is it won`t be clear so you can see in.

[rexstubbins]

If D.2. fails again with more art and D.3. (Star shaped lid) fails, I'll move on to plan E.

Try a sch 40 PVC round end cap, I doubt you will crack that. Only thing is it won`t be clear so you can see in.

Hopefully I won't have to resort to that. LOOK we're almost there. This is starting to look like a salesman's sample. 1 light scale & 1 dark.

[rexstubbins]

OK. I am finally at the point where I am done soaking the scales in the golden oak stain. I forgot to mention that I had added some vinegar into the stain yesterday. I took them out and padded them dry with a paper towel and then put a streak of the mahogany oil dye down the center of each scale (pic 2.)

Picture 3 is after they have dried. I like the outcome. Kind of a 2 tone. Time to start re-assembly.

[glennbad]

Wow, those sure came out great!

[ol' smoke]

Lookin' Mighty Fine!!

[rexstubbins]

Made some progress. Still not completely done. Need to polish the bolsters a bit more. All in all I'm happy with the results.

In retrospect:

* I would use leather stain & dye again. I like the outcome.
* I would not use olive oil to pre-soak them in. I think this somewhat hindered the stain from soaking in. When I added vinegar to the stain it looked like it leeched out the oil and the stain soaked in faster.
* I might try pre-soaking in vinegar or isopropal alcohol the next time.
* I now have a vacuum chamber. Might use it to impress the grandkids by placing marshmallows in it.
* All in all I did this to experiment and I had fun doing it. Almost time for the next knife.

Progress pics below...

[orvet]

looks good!

[PigSticker]

W0W! you nailed it--knife looks great.

[wlf]

I like your sense of humor Rex and the time you took to show us all these steps.It looks great.

I especially liked the marshmallow remark.

"Of course I never knew I was doing it the hard way until after I was done.",sounds like me.

You've became a star in one post.

[glennbad]

Wow! It looks great, just great!

[Miller Bro's]

The end result is excellent!

What`s next??

[rexstubbins]

Thank you for all the kind words.

As for my next one I think it'll be this one:

I don't think I'll use wood but I'll re-do it in bone. Not a big fan of wood handled knives. It was nice of Kurt to scribe his name on the handle.

[muskrat man]

not sure what type of dye you're using but it seems to me oil would keep any kind of dye from penetrating into the bone because, well.......................it's oil.

I'm using Fiebing's oil dye. It seems like it would be OK because it's the same medium. Trust me. I had all of the same questions before I started but figured the only way to know for sure is just try it. I'm hoping that by tomorrow the one stingy scale will have penetrated completely with the olive oil.

Of all of the knives you have done have you dyed any muskrat man?

I dyed many handles, more than I can recall. Wit hthe dyes I use it's imperitive that the bone is thoroughly DE-greased. but as they say, there's more than one way to skin a cat

[Reverand]

Rex, those new handles look better than the original!
I have a friend who has been a knife mechanic for over 40 years. He told me he puts bone scales in an old Crock Pot with leather dye. He turns it on for a few hours, then turns it off and lets it sit a day. He does this off and on for a few days.
I haven't tried it yet, but I will post results when I do.
Thanks for sharing the failures as well as the success, and again, great job on a beautiful knife!

[Bill DeShivs]

Injecting the bone scales with oil is a very bad idea.
It will keep the bone from absorbing dye readily and it softens the bone. Sorry....