Finishing mesquite....

silver_pilate

silver_pilate

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
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I have a bowie to build in which I'd like to use mesquite for the handle. I've got several mesquite blocks of the right size (hidden tang) but have never finished this wood out.

Any advice on how to get a beautiful finish?

Thanks!

--nathan
 
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I usually take it to 400 grit and put tung oil on it then on to 600 with a couple more coats of tung oil and 0000 steel wool.

On another note I was hoping to get a get together going up here in Pampa with you and a couple other guys from Lubbock, but plans have changed I'm afraid. We just found out we're going to be having a kiddo and the wife has a list nine miles long before that happens. Hopefully something will work out.
 
Haha....well congratulations!! Priorities, priorities. Happy to hear about you guys expecting. I've been in contact with another maker from Lubbock, but haven't been in touch in a while. Actually, I'm getting married in 2 & 1/2 months, so I understand about the to-do list. Hopefully, someday things will settle down in a bit (yeah...right!) and we can all get together.

Best of luck to you two, and thanks for the tips. Talk to you later.

--nathan
 
Go thru the steps with sandpaper up to Crocus, 0000 steel wool, light buff and apply Watco Danish oil. When mostly dry remove excess and buff with a rag, apply second coat , remove excess again and buff with a soft rag again. Done! Read the label this stuff can ignite easily, soak the rag in water when done and dispose properly. Watco acually penetrates the wood and even hardens it somewhat.

Regards

Shike
 
silver_pilate said:
Haha....well congratulations!! Priorities, priorities. Happy to hear about you guys expecting. I've been in contact with another maker from Lubbock, but haven't been in touch in a while. Actually, I'm getting married in 2 & 1/2 months, so I understand about the to-do list. Hopefully, someday things will settle down in a bit (yeah...right!) and we can all get together.

Best of luck to you two, and thanks for the tips. Talk to you later.

--nathan
Click to expand...

Congrats to you too! Yeah priorities are gonna change big time around here. Best of luck to ya and definitly keep in touch cause we're too close not to get together and do some grinding at least once or twice.
 
Well Silver_Pilate, we should have no trouble finding mesquite 'round these parts. Great idea, BTW. A nice bowie with a mesquite handle. I gotta love that!! Sorry, but no ideas for finishes yet.

I also accepted your request:thumbup:. Looks like our brother in Pampa has his plate full for the forseeable future. Best of luck to the both of you!!
 
Nathan, Mesquite is a good wood to have stabilized, I had a batch done by wssi and it turned out great. Before that I used watco danish oil, sand up to 12-1500, apply coat of danish oil, wet sand in,let set 15 min. wipe and repeat about 3 times, then just coat with danish oil, let dry obout an hour, do this 3 times, let dry for 3-4 days then buff with pink scratchlees on a loose buff, will come out like glass.
 
Like most woods; it is best when stabilized. If the piece you are working has a lot of figure, try using a quarter inch brass rod to burnish the surface.
This technique will do things to the wood surface that sandpapers will not do.
Use this technique towards the end of the finishing after you have sanded to what appears to be smooth. Burnishing will make it smoother still.
Here is one bowie with mesquite.
I believe it lends itself to big knives it has so much character to it that it needs a big blade to show it off.

Good luck and show us the finished knife, Fred
brf002.jpg
 
Thanks Fred! Great looking bowie there. I'm not expecting to match that quality, but that's what I'm shooting for. Why do anything if it's not your best, right?

Fred, would you mind describing the technique you use to burnish the wood with a brass rod? I'm not familiar with the technique. Also, do you burnish in addition to some sort of finisher like Danish or tung oil, or just sand out to higher grits and then burnish to finish?

Thanks for the help!! I'm really looking forward to this project; it's something new for me. Don't hold your breath waiting, however, as it may be after Christmas before I can get it done. I've still got to finish my groomsmen gift knives and several others which I'll post here when I'm done.

Thanks again!

--nathan
 
I think one of the benefits of stabilizing the mesquite is that it will help stop oxidation. The wood darkens with age if it's not sealed.
 
600 grit finish, then sand in (still 600 grit for mine but you can use finer) Watco Danish oil until it doesn't absorb any more. The first time might take a half hour or more. Wipe off to remove sanding dust and then wet again with clean cloth. Wait overnight without wiping off excess. Check. IF it is tacky/sticky, repeat and wipe off after a 15 minute soak. If not tacky/sticky, repeat first step and leave wet overnight again. Repeat until it won't absorb any more...that is when it will be tacky to the touch. I use oil wetted steel wool for getting the last (sticky) coat off, then wet it with a clean cloth and wipe down lightly. Let cure for a week before heavy use as the deep oil takes time to cure fully.

Results:

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