There's a low tech approach on Don Fogg's site at www.dfoggknives.com/ShopTips%208.htm. It's from Randal Graham. He says:

"Know what preserve jars are? lockable top ones like grandma pickled stuff in, made all that great jam and stuff...anyway, clear Thompson's Water Seal, or colored variations if you are brave, warm it up in the jar, in a double boiler set-up, till it's really hot... put the bone handle section in, and seal it.

Put it on a shelf for a month or two, longer if you want, you can let them sit for quite a while if need be, or not in a rush. When you take it out to use it, warm it in an oven at around 150f to dry it out, and let it cool slow in the oven. 15 to 30 min ought to do it.

or...

Rig up a way to put a container in some kind of set-up that will allow you to pull 12 or 15 inches of vacuum... put the bone in the Thompson's, seal the rig and pull a vacuum for 15 minutes, let it off for 15, and repeat the cycle three or four times, then do the same dry-out routine.

Lazy in-a-hurry time-is-everything method. Soak it in acetone for 5 or 10 minutes, then massage a good 24 hour epoxy into all surfaces with your fingers, wearing surgical gloves... after it sets you can rub it down a bit with superfine steel wool or 600-800 grit paper with water, and polish it."


JD