Desert Ironwood

[skilldust]

Hay guys,
I have gotten 4 set of scales off of ebay and have never used any.
would like to know the best way to finish them.
Thanks, Jerry

 

[Dan Pierson]

Sand to 1500-2000 grit. Buff if you really want to. I use MicroMesh to their 12000 grit instead of buffing.

Wax if you want to.

 

[Phillip Dobson]

I finish with 3M finishing paper. There's noticeable improvement taking it all the way to 8000-grit. Then maybe a light coat of oil or wax if you like the looks.

 

[Daniel Koster]

What kind of knife is this going on? user or safe queen?

 

[haggismonger]

Crosshatching with a 60 grit belt for that extra grip!

 

[silver_pilate]

Crosshatching with 60 grit will definitely give you that better grip, but it will also leave the wood scratched to hell and back. If that's the way you want to finish it (for a very heavy user), no problem, but if you're looking for that polished, glassy look with great chatoyance that most people want with desert ironwood, you have to finish it to a high grit.

This knife was finished by hand up to 2000 grit (work each grit until all the scratches from the previous grit are gone), received multiple coats of Danish oil, and then a very light buff with white rouge on a sewn wheel:

Desert ironwood is a great handle material. DO WEAR A RESPIRATOR. This wood has a high silica content and will scar your lungs (ie. silicosis).

--nathan

 

[Phillip Dobson]

Desert ironwood is a great handle material. DO WEAR A RESPIRATOR. This wood has a high silica content and will scar your lungs (ie. silicosis).

And if that isn't enough, it smells terrible, too.

 

[Daniel Koster]

I absolutely LOVE the smell of Ironwood.....Cocobolo too. You guys must be on crack.

 

[haggismonger]

SilverPilate, I'm glad you caught my sarcasm.

 

[silver_pilate]

Yeah...me, too. What can I say, it's been a long week.

--nathan

 

[skilldust]

Thanks for the info, treat it about the same as cocobola.
Thanks again, Jerry

 

[Shaughnessy]

I would just add that if you have any cracks when you sand you can lay in some CA (superglue) and it will fill in with the mixed CA and dust. You can also do a coating with thin CA for real gloss. Lots of tutorials on this too if you look.

Larry