desert ironwood buffing

[milkyeye]

I have several knives that after use, have seen the desert ironwood handles get really dull looking. Whats the best way to bring back the original luster? I have heard that this wood will not except any oils, and I would agree only after trying to buff it up with linseed oil, with no success.

 

[rdrogers]

I have experienced the same. Tru oil seems to have worked for me. A couple of light coats have worked so far.

 

[WValtakis]

I like sanding to 2k then a light buffing with hard carnauba wax.

~Chip

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Sanding to high-grit as mentioned above^, should help. Really dense & fine-grained wood seems to respond well to that. With some of those, going above ~1000 or so, in a grit tight sequence (400 > 600 > 800 > 1000 > etc), will create a high, polished-looking shine on it's own, even before any waxing or other finishing is done. And because the wood itself is sanded to such a shine, it'll hold it for longer after a finish is applied (if any is used at all). Desert ironwood may not need or accept much of an artificial finish anyway, save for maybe waxing it as mentioned.