Thread: Bone scales care

While not straight razor-related, I'm hoping you guys can point me in the right direction.

I have just finished a small marking knife (for woodworking) for a friend, and put bone scales on the tang. What do you guys use as a finish on bone? I have read in a couple of places that mineral oil is recommended, but what about neatsfoot? Other suggestions? Or do you use anything other than a good polish?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Cangooner

While not straight razor-related, I'm hoping you guys can point me in the right direction.

I have just finished a small marking knife (for woodworking) for a friend, and put bone scales on the tang. What do you guys use as a finish on bone? I have read in a couple of places that mineral oil is recommended, but what about neatsfoot? Other suggestions? Or do you use anything other than a good polish?

Thanks

The only time I've played with bone was for RezDog and I used my vacuum chamber to infuse mineral oil into the bone. It really make it look sharp.

I don't know if an extended soaking would bring about similar results.

If you were looking to keep the pores looking new or the surface shiny, 'Maybe' some CA on top?

I have used clear Danish oil to seal the bone.

I polish and buff the bone. Nothing else

I have soaked bone in Neatsfoot oil & like horn it made it get a translucent effect to it, not sure how this would effect the adhesive on a full tang knife scale but, if the oil soaked in enough could detach the scales ??
I mainly only give a good coat & polish of Renascence Wax to seal bone scales on Str8s & knives for this reason

It depends on how dry the bone is. Some of it, like the stuff Roy oiled for me, was so dry it had a chalky, chippy surface. Other stuff is not so bad. I have done oil baths with light mineral oil but mostly if I have nice bone I just wax it. You can get quite a polish on it with micromesh alone.

Thanks all. I think some experimenting is in order. I have a couple of off-cuts from the piece I used, so I might try oiling them and see what happens.

Right now I'm leaning towards a good polish and giving my buddy a heads-up that a light oiling might be in order down the road.

Thanks again

I've always just used a mineral oil soak and finished with a wax.

Not sure why I never thought about doing it in the vacuum chamber. I will next time, thanks for that.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

I've always just used a mineral oil soak and finished with a wax.

Not sure why I never thought about doing it in the vacuum chamber. I will next time, thanks for that.

Glad I was of some help.

You'll be surprised at how many bubbles come out and for how long!!

So the winner is...

Good buff/polish with micromesh, then a coat of mineral oil. Since I"m shipping it to the UK, I was going to give the blade a coat of mineral oil anyway, so why not carry on to the scales?

Anyway, here it is. Chainsaw blade & 1095 canister damascus, bone scales, brass pins. Since it's a marking knife it has a chisel grind (i.e. bevel on one side only).