OldTools Archive
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275075 | Thomas Hall <l-thall@c...> | 2022‑01‑16 | Steak Knive Handles |
Need Help, I have a set of steak knives from our weeding in 1966. They have held up quite well. They are just losing their finish. Any idea of what would be the best way to preserve them? The blades read "Flint Stainless (Arrow Shape) Vanadium U.S.A.. Tommy Hall |
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275076 | scritch <capeflattery@c...> | 2022‑01‑16 | Re: Steak Knive Handles |
Wooden handles, I assume. How about some butcher block finish or conditioner? Or just mineral oil? That is also food safe. |
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275081 | scottg <scottg@s...> | 2022‑01‑16 | Re: Steak Knive Handles |
If they are like the Flint steak knives in my rack they are rosewood handles. I polish rosewood on a buffing wheel and its very pretty. Have to keep them out of water for long, is the drawback. But then soaking wood handles is never welcome. Best varnish I have found for kitchen use is marine spar varnish. Oil varnish and let it cure a long time. It holds up for years before you have to scrape it off and start over. yours scott -- ******************************* Scott Grandstaff Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca 96039 scottg@s... http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/ http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html |
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275104 | Kirk Eppler | 2022‑01‑17 | Re: Steak Knive Handles |
I've melted mineral oil and beeswax together, and used that on bare wood handles in the kitchen. Recipe was called Wood Butter or some such. Won't repair or replace your finish, but will keep the handles going quite a bit longer, if 55 years isn't long enough KE |
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275110 | Bridger Berdel <bridgerberdel@g...> | 2022‑01‑18 | Re: Steak Knive Handles |
I've used a couple of versions of a heavy duty wet service handle finish. The first is simple but potentially hazardous. Get a tall narrow vessel- it could be a tin can, but the best I had was an empty propane torch cylinder with the top sawed off. Fill it to the depth of the length of the handle with 50/50 linseed oil and your choice of wax. I have used both beeswax and paraffin wax and slightly prefer the paraffin. Put this over a heat source outside far from anything flammable. If it boils over onto a flame it'll create a big, dirty hard to put out fire. A small electric hotplate seems prudent here. Bring it to heat until the wax can be melted into the oil and easily mixed together- not boiling but close. Stand the knife or whatever in the vessel handle down and observe it until the bubbles stop coming out of the end grain of the wood. Pull it from the pot and leave it in a cool place until it hardens. The second method is less gallootish but worth mentioning. I have both an air compressor and a vacuum pump. From a section of 3" ABS pipe and a few fittings I made a vacuum/pressure chamber with a quick disconnect air fitting on it. The line for the vacuum chamber will squeeze snugly over the tip of said fitting. So get a large zip lock bag. Tape off any sharp bits of the knife or whatever and put it in the bag handle down. Wrap the part of the bag with the handle in it loosely with string or rubber bands to limit the shape of the bag from spraying out.. Add some of your favorite varnish to the bag, enough to cover a bit above the wood part. Squeeze out most of the air and seal the bag. Put it in the chamber handle down and seal up the chamber. Hook up the vacuum pump and pull a vacuum on it. You want to hold that vacuum long enough for as much air as possible to pull out of the pores of the wood. I generally leave it overnight. Then disconnect the vacuum and connect the pressure. I usually run it up to about 40 psi and leave it for a few hours. This hopefully drives the varnish deeper into the wood. When you're done with the atmospheric manipulation take the knife out of the bag, wipe it down and leave it in a warm dry place for a day or so, wiping it down from time to time as varnish seeps out of the pores. I usually do a coat or two of the same varnish sanding between coats to build finish on the surface. On Mon, Jan 17, 2022, 4:43 PM Kirk Eppler via groups.io |
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275111 | Phil E. <pedgerton66@g...> | 2022‑01‑18 | Re: Steak Knive Handles |
I made a "homemade" food safe finish for cutting boards, wooden spoons, kuksas, handles, etc. It is beeswax, walnut oil, and vodka melted together. It worked so well and looked good so now it is my shop finish for tool handles and other small wood things as well. Best applied during "happy hour". Phil E. |
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275112 | Tim Pendleton <tpendleton@g...> | 2022‑01‑18 | Re: Steak Knive Handles |
I'll bet that works well with highly figured wood....you know...the stuff 'with a twist". Running and ducking, Tim Coaxing some gnarly old spruce 3 x 12s into a new anvil stand in chilly NJ today. |
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