Dressing Stag

[stonehard]

I have some nice Sambar Stag scales that seem to be in the raw
how do I turn these dull brown lumps into that nice shiny stuff.
Do I sand it, wire brush it? any suggestions

[Gator68]

Make sure it is clean. Then shape to match your handle. Sand the areas you've shaped, going up to at least 600 grit. Then you can buff if you want. Careful with the compound you use to buff with -- it can color the stag. I keep a separate buffing wheel that I only use on stag and ivory and only use a white compound on it.

[cybertrix]

I find buffing is not required if you use fine grit wet and dry then apply a light coat of baby oil or liquid paraffin. :)

[MushiSushi]

So what are all the trendy stags wearing for the winter/spring 2004 season??

[MushiSushi]

oops my mistake ... misinterpreted the thread title :D

[Colin KC]

So what are all the trendy stags wearing for the winter/spring 2004 season??


By the sounds of it, nothing but a quick scrub & a wipe down with baby oil from 'Trix:yikes:;)

[cybertrix]

What can I say.... so much pleasure in such a small bottle. :D :p :o

[hootchi]

I find buffing is not required if you use fine grit wet and dry then apply a light coat of baby oil or liquid paraffin. :)
I am new to knife making but can you apply baby oil to wooden handled knives to finish them :thanks:

[Ophidian]

I guess it can be difficult getting a T shirt over their heads... better with a button front shirt :D

BTW Mushi, I was thinking exactly the same as I saw the title to this thread :biggthump

[hootchi]

wouldn't sanding the antler remove the brown colour and leave it all completly white with no texture

[Tacol]

If you sand only the part which was shaped to fit the tang, There's no reason the main brown color desappears.

If you sand the whole scale too hard, yes it will look as white as bone...

[dickiedog]

If i want a solid color stag after sanding i dye it with Feblings oil dye and to protect and keep it from shinking i soak it in mineral oil over night as i do all ivory and horn or tooth material.

[Stuart Ackerman]

hootchi,
Any oil that remains "wet ", such as baby oil, might help protect the wood, but I have had customers use so much, that the epoxy under the scales let go!
I recommended that a customer use a tiny drop of baby oil on ivory" every now and then" ( my words ).
After 10 months he phoned up and moaned about the scales been " loose"!.
Apparently, every night while watched the 8 o'clock news, he rubbed the knife with good old Johnsons Baby Oil!
soaking the ivory in acetone fixed the problem , but eventually the ivory cracked!
He took my advice and I put Green Canvas Micatra on instead. ALL at my expense!

I am guessing that too much oil might affect stag as well?

Stu