Another woodchuck question (truoil won't dry)

ferguson

ferguson

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Feb 21, 2001
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I'm working on 3 handles. Two are going famously, but the 3rd is causing problems. It's an 18" AK by Kesar. On the main blade as well as karda and chakma, the truoil won't seem to dry. On this handle, I sanded down pretty much to bare wood. I put on very thin coats of the oil, and 3 or 4 days later it's still tacky. I have even tried setting it on top of my computer monitor to stay warm. The other knives set up overnight. What could be different about this wood? Can I add something to the truoil? Should I use a different product? Twice I have steel wooled the tacky part off, let dry 24 hours, and put a very thin coat on again. It seems to be helping...maybe. Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Steve
 
Sounds similar to a problem I had.
Uncle Bill has it right. If Wal or Yvsa are around I KNOW that they can give you pointers.
I followed Walosi's advice and it helped. Shorea Robusta or not, it was the hardest wood to get in shape I've encountered.
 
Steve I've had similar problems before so don't think it's yourself causing the problem.;)
Some woods are just plain oilier than others and are difficult to have any finish dry on.
Since you've already done what I would have the only suggestion I have is to strip it down to bare wood once more and scrub the hay'll outta the handles with Murphey's Oil Soap like Walosi recommends.
I would try that at least twice, maybe three times. When the wood dries a whiteish color it's probably ready to take the finish coat.

I had a similar problem with a Red Cedar or Juniper Wood Flute. It would dry okay, but in a day or two would have several dull spots appear. There were also some surface cracks that when well sealed over and taken into the Sweatlodge would reappear yet again.
I solved both problems with a Bondini-2 Super Glue Finish.:)

Edited for being overconfident I was hitting the correct keys.:o
 
Some individual pieces of wood take forever to dry. There is another use for Armor All (sometimes). Spritz just a drop on your fingertip (over a wastebasket, to mollify SWMBO) and rub it lightly into the tacky area (or the entire piece, if it is all tacky). Do this once or twice, and begin to rub the surface with light "touch" strokes, until it begins to set up. With practice,you can feel it begin to "grab" your fingertip, and back off onthe pressure. Then, when satifactory, set it aside to dry for about another day. I don't knw whether it is additional moisture, oil, or just persnicketyness in some individual peces, but the type of wood doesn't seem to matter. At one point in my fight with the Big UBE handle, I put an excessive coat on, and set it aside for two weeks. It wasn't really tacky, b it had not set up entirely. I rubbed it clean with a rag,and then hand-rubbed the living schnitz out of it, and it took the best shine it has had to date. I hope there is no need to take my fingerprints before July.
 
Steve, note that there are two formulations of Murphy's soap: Original Formula (concentrate) which Wal recommends using straight, and Multiuse Cleaner with a sprayer top. I found that the Multiuse type seemed to dry the wood out more, almost too much. I got the concentrate and found it better on the last two handles I've done. Maybe the Multiuse flavor would be better for this problem if you decide to soap it.

Wal, what don't you use ArmorAll for? I imagine your entire abode and all inside smooth and shiny due to hand-rubbing with ArmorAll:p
 
I also have the shiniest Cairn Terrier in Kentucky....looks like a canine Brylcreem ad :eek:
 
Originally posted by Walosi
There is another use for Armor All (sometimes). Spritz just a drop on your fingertip (over a wastebasket, to mollify SWMBO) and rub it lightly into the tacky area (or the entire piece, if it is all tacky).
Click to expand...

Taking a break from my taxes, I tried this. I can already tell a huge difference in the tackiness. We'll see tomorrow. How in heck did you learn about the Armor All trick with oil finishes? Who would think to try it the first time? Thanks Wal and everyone else. Yvsa, I'm going to try your super glue finish on another piece.

Back to W-2s, 1099s, yatta yatta yatta blah blah blah,

Steve
 
...were once featured in an auto detailing article, claiming that the two bonded and improved the shine on show cars. It was only logical to conclude that Armor All would do the same for an oil finish on wood. My mother only dropped me on my head a few times - never on the end with the brains :)
 
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