Better way to glue scales to filework?

Johnny Roberts

Johnny Roberts

Well-Known Member
I recently made a knife with a creeping vine pattern that started at the hilt and ran all the way to the tip.

This knife had Ironwood scales with black vulcanized spacers. I use LocTite 330 and it is definitely a different animal than normal two-part epoxy.

When it came time to glue the scales to the handle, I had to uses some toothpicks to dig out the glue that seeped out into the recesses of the vine pattern.

My question is do anyone have a tip or trick that you use to avoid this problem?
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I like the way the spine looks when the pattern is not filled in with epoxy. It just seems that someone has to have an easier way to do this without all the mess.

Thanks all,

Lonestar JR
 
Take a jar of vaseline and using a fine paint brush, paint the vaseline in all the cracks and crevasses in the filework. Try not to get any on the flat of the tang itself. Once the epoxy has cured it will not stick to the vaseline so you can pick it out with the toothpick. I hope this is what you are asking.
Steve
 
I've never done file work, but I use the same method when attaching my handle scales. I put vasaline on my polished front edge of the scales as well as the blade to prevent epoxy fromsticking where I don't want it. It works great.
 
I like to fill it in with colored epoxy either black or brown pending the color of the wood.
 
Thanks to everyone for their tips and ideas. I have used the vaseline on the front of the scales before with great results. I will try that on the filework as well.

Lonestar JR
 
You can take a toothpick with motor oil Vaseline or whatever and roll in the file work being careful not to get it on the flats. You will have to go through and pick it all out with a dental pick later. Another way I've done it is to fill the file work with bees wax and most of it will come out when buffing.
 
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