Crappy wood finish again

I'm just a hobby guy but I've never had this problem. I've used all kinds of wood from maple which is really tight grained to red oak which has very open pores. I get close with a sander and then switch to files and sand paper. When I'm done I use compressed air at 100# or better to blow off the wood before applying a coat of finish. No metal dust in or on the wood at all.
 
Padrig said:
Good idea but sadly the wood was free of steel dust before beginning so it would do no good.

Thanks AG, I am glad to know that the problem is not me as much a s wood choice. This is cherry wood by the way.

Pat
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The real problems will begin when your customer starts to use the knife. Walnut, cherry, maple, even bow-darc will take up oil from the hands, soak up body fluids from the animals being cut and will become nasty and ugly. Stabilizing prevents that problem, as does the use of historic knife handle material like African Blackwood, East Indian Rosewood, Cocobolo, Desert Ironwood and other woods either so dense or so oily that dirt cannot get into the surface
 
James_Terrio said:
I've worried about that. I like the look and feel of an oiled finish, but I'm moving more and more towards materials that are more durable.
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I have tried everything from Danish Oil to Polyurathene and have found nothing that does not quickly wear off resulting in the handle looking like h__l.
 
I hear you, chief. I recently purchased some really nice curly maple and figured walnut blocks from folks here on the forum; I think I will just have them all stabilized to prevent head-aches down the road. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction :)
 
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