Acrylic lacquer for knife handle - OK or terrible idea?

[wimpyguy]

I bought a can of Tikkurila acrylic lacquer (Tikkurila Unica, here's the link) intended for internal and external door and window wood surfaces.

What I typically do with tool (including knife) handles is, I just use linseed oil. I may sometimes add a bit of tar to the linseed oil. However, I wanted to experiment with something completely different, and a water-based acrylic lacquer is as different as it gets.

So the question for the esteemed community of knife and toolmakers is: how resistant is this kind of lacquer to weathering and abrasion? I fully expect it not to be as resistant as some other solutions, but I am curious if this is a terrible idea or just mildly bad? If it's only mildly bad or just "not OK", I might try it as an experiment. Otherwise, if it's absolutely ridiculously bad ("it will get removed the first time you use it"-bad), I won't even bother.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

I am not exactly "esteemed," but I don't think it's worth the bother. I can see lacquering the underside of scales or the tang under the scales to prevent corrosion or water damage, but anyplace you are going to get rubbing you are going to get removal. It will wear faster in some areas in others, then you are faced with adding more product and developing multiple layers in places or figuring out how to remove all of the product at once without damaging the substrate. Acrylics in general are much better now than ever before, so it might be worth a shot on something you can mod easily--Becker scales might be a great experiment. But it's a can of worms that doesn't sound like it's worth the effort, and I am completely biased towards finishing wood with linseed, teak, or tung oil, or waxes. Don't drag me into the modern era!

 

[wimpyguy]

I am not exactly "esteemed," but I don't think it's worth the bother. I can see lacquering the underside of scales or the tang under the scales to prevent corrosion or water damage, but anyplace you are going to get rubbing you are going to get removal. It will wear faster in some areas in others, then you are faced with adding more product and developing multiple layers in places or figuring out how to remove all of the product at once without damaging the substrate. Acrylics in general are much better now than ever before, so it might be worth a shot on something you can mod easily--Becker scales might be a great experiment. But it's a can of worms that doesn't sound like it's worth the effort, and I am completely biased towards finishing wood with linseed, teak, or tung oil, or waxes. Don't drag me into the modern era!

I really like your reply, sir. And I am sure you're esteemed - you are to me, at least.
While I was waiting for replies, I put a little of this lacquer on a spruce plank and let it dry. The first coat has dried sufficiently well for me to be.... quite impressed. Just like yourself, I am a huge fan of drying oils for toolhandles (waxes not so much), and this isn't going to change anytime soon. I just would like to have more options to experiment with.