ebony tips

What do you mean by (touch up), I'm not clear on what your asking. Ive never had to do anything to a forend tip (ebony) once it was finished and sealed well!
 
ebony

Sir:
You don't "touch-up" ebony - it is usually solid black all the way through.
I'll save you some misery - do not breath, or get the dust from any exotic woods on you or breathe it - many of them are poison as I learned first hand !
Long sleeves, a good breathing mask, etc. is a must-have in doing forend tips of exotic woods!
On the other hand, if the tip is painted on just re-paint it.
Specify the type of tip and we can answer this better.
Harry B.
 
I don't know that there is any danger in working with ebony, but Harry is right. It is a pretty hard wood but it can be scratched. Normally a little sanding with fine paper and some stain or oil will correct any problem.

However, ebony is quite expensive, even in small quantities, so most "ebony" tips are not ebony. Older ones were often horn, and most modern ones are plastic. Sometimes, the stock is simply painted.

Jim
 
Harry sir: I noticed you used the term (usally) solid black, but have you seen what they are passing off these days as ebony, it's darn hard to find any that are black. Alot of them have brown streaks in the wood now, and still it's a $ bar of gold! I have one left, 12" long that is black, would like to find another or two before they cost the price of a full length gun blank, any ideas! Dakota had one that was walnut that was injected with black dye through Brownells, and belive it or not it was a very nice product to work with but i have not seen it for years now.:(
 
I believe it is pure ebony but not positive. This is a customers stock that I'm doing some other work on and he asked if I could do anything for the tip. I've never worked with ebony before and would rather just tell him I can't than make it look worse.
 
"...rather just tell him I can't than..." Good idea. However, depending on what needs doing, wood is wood. Even the expensive stuff. I'd try buffing it on a cloth wheel.
Lee Valley Tools sells exotic woods. You could have a look on their site for finishing tips.
 
James,

What specifically is wrong with the tip?
I work with Ebony all the time, Black, Brown and Macassar.
If it needs sanding and buffing, that is easy. If the tip currently has a finish on it, you'll have to match that after sanding. Or, sand the whole tip till smooth, and buff it for a nice finish. Ebony has oil in the wood, so no finish coat is required, but it is nice. Finish sand with 600 grit, then buff, or apply an oil finish.

Martyn
 
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