Thread: Cocobolo Scales. What do I treat them with?

Originally Posted by Costabro

Alright. I finally quit using the camelia oil and got some johnson's paste wax. Now, the question is what do I put on my buffalo horn Wade & Butcher? I've seen someone soak theirs in neatsfoot oil for a week and they got a nice black luster. However, I do not wish to have scales that will be irreversibly oily/greasy? Any suggestions?

You need to be a little more exact,,,

Just like the Cocobolo question you also got ways to treat them as if you made them, not as if they were the ones from Dovo...

Are these the old original scales??? if so then yes treating them with Neatsfoot oil for a day or two and then wiping it off is the way to go...
However this doesn't make for the luster finish it was all the sanding before the Neatsfoot oil that made the finish... just wiping and/or soaking with the Neatsfoot will condition and clean the horn only, when you wipe it off the scales will no longer be greasy

Yup. These are the original buffalo horn scales as were the cocobolo scales. I have some other wood scales, olivewood I believe, that I've put on an old Henkel blade. Is neatsfoot best for them too as they've never been treated?

Olivewood is one of the easiest woods to finish, you can use just about anything Not Neatsfoot though

The easiest finishes are what are called "Wipe On" types

Minwax makes a Wipe On Polyurethane that works very well with Olivewood the instructions are dead on for it...

Teak Oil or Danish Oil are also very easy to use and work well Tung oil is high up on the list but is a bit harder to get really good results with it...

Use your Johnsons wax after the finish is fully dry and you are good to go...

There are a ton of tips on finishing scales in the Workshop sticky here too

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Olivewood is one of the easiest woods to finish, you can use just about anything Not Neatsfoot though

The easiest finishes are what are called "Wipe On" types

Minwax makes a Wipe On Polyurethane that works very well with Olivewood the instructions are dead on for it...

Teak Oil or Danish Oil are also very easy to use and work well Tung oil is high up on the list but is a bit harder to get really good results with it...

Use your Johnsons wax after the finish is fully dry and you are good to go...

There are a ton of tips on finishing scales in the Workshop sticky here too

http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...wers-here.html

Personally i would stay away from polyurethane reason being eventually it will break down with time and water etc, and renewing
a poly finish means sanding or else it will look like poop, and will loose and natural aging of the wood meaning patina.
OTOH an oil finish can be renewed easily without any problems, and BTW everybody should have a can of johnson wax at home
it has so many uses, Enjoy!!

Nothing wrong with store bought waxes and moisturizers. However, you've already got a pretty good treatment in your own skin. Try rubbing the scales on your forehead, allowing your natural oils to rub off. Give the wood a good rub with your fingers and there you go, treated. Works great on pipes too.

Originally Posted by Costabro

Alright. I finally quit using the camelia oil and got some johnson's paste wax. Now, the question is what do I put on my buffalo horn Wade & Butcher? I've seen someone soak theirs in neatsfoot oil for a week and they got a nice black luster. However, I do not wish to have scales that will be irreversibly oily/greasy? Any suggestions?

Horn will not get oily form the oil, it does not soak stuff like a sponge. You will not get luster from the oil soak only, the soak will get the horn rejuvenated but you still will have to buff to get it shiny.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Costabro

I strongly recommend that you PM "cannonfodder" for the best way to treat your scales. He is a walking encyclopedia for this kind of info. Really, contact him.

Jerry

I did just that and he was very helpful. Thanks.

This post cracked me up, as just yesterday I pulled out my new puma which comes with cocobolo scales, and I noticed they needed a little something also so I went into the cleaning closet and found some lemon oil, put some on my fingers, rubbed it in, let it dry, and voilà they look great. But I think I'm going to use Glenn's suggestion seal them with some paste wax as that sounds like a good idea.