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This is a pair of steak knives I made using some cocobolo. I bought a set of four blades from Woodcraft and the knives are great except for the pins they supply. The knife company (Sarge) supplies aluminum pins which I found were to be too weak. The problem is that when I try to put the aluminum pins in the holes using a vice, the pins bend and will not go in straight. As a solution, I bought a stainless steel rod and made my own pins which are much stronger.

I finished them using mineral oil. I wasn't too sure what I should have used for a finish so if any of you have suggestions for a finish for my next pair of knives, I would appreciate it. Thanks for looking.

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Great looking knives. The pins you inserted were they steel or stainless?
 

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Nice knives - my favorite finish is 8 or so coats of a 50-50 mix of Minwax Spar Urethane and Mineral Spirits. Extremely waterproof and durable. That said, I have no idea how well it'd work on cocobolo, with that being an oily wood. Regardless, very nice job.
 

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Although I haven't made any in a while I was once in to knifemaking and was a member of a blacksmithing club. I was given some cocobolo for making knife scales by one of our senior members. His technique was to soak the scales in acetone, using several baths of it. He said this would draw out the oils in the wood and it would come out of the baths looking terrible but not to worry. He would thoroughly dry the scales. He would then liberally apply CA glue to the scales and said it would draw the CA deep into the wood, which for knife scales meant completely through. Once the CA cured he could polish it to a brilliant shine and it would resist moisture and maintain a satisfactory appearance even if it endured scratches. I have yet to try this technique but the examples of finished product that I have seen were brilliant.
 
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