Bog oak knife scales fun n games advice please

[sirysghost]

I was reading a forum where someone asked how to identify fake bog oak and someone jokingly put... "ifif when your shaping it horrible black stuff spits off everywhere and if it splits n checks off along the grain and is a right pain.... it's bog oak"..

Well I did laugh but I laugh no more.... first use of Russian bog oak and it's beautiful looking scales...BUT... down to final shaping n sanding and I keep noticing small cracks n bit's wanting to split off..

So my plan it to vacuum wood harden the other scales hoping this will help ....I've heard it will.

Any advice on the current fitted scales or future treatment

 

[mick91]

Bog oak can be an absolute nightmare. The only way I got around it was using very fine paper, 400 grit and above. I suppose you could stabilise it too