Hawk handle finish

[shappa]

Hi guys,

I picked up a hawk ( nothing like the quality Ray Richards puts out, but nice) and would like to finish off the handle.
It's maple with some nice stripping.
How can I bring out the stripping the best and have a warm look to it. I also plan on a design with brass brads...optional, depending how well my practicing on an old axe handle goes.
Should I sand down the handle, do the brass brad design THEN the finish?

So, What do you use?

Thanks!!

 

[mete]

You mean striping ? In the wood as in 'tiger maple' ? If the handle isn't smooth then sand it .Any finish will bring out the grain even a clear finish . If you want it dark then use stain. Don't use a gloss finish ,instead use a matt finish. It really should be an oil finish .

 

[howiesatwork]

I disagree with you mete on the matt finishes.
Matt finish is made by adding silicon oxide to the finish, usually, and clouds the finish.
Go gloss. and then you can make it satin or matt by sanding or scotchbrite.
I agree with everything else...

 

[Raymond Richard]

Sand it down to 320. What works for me is a put black leather dye on. After it drys I sand again with a finer grit and remove most the dye. I'll go with a brown next and after it drys steel wool 00000. I put two coats of Watco Teak finsih. Steel wool again inbetween coats and make sure its good and dry. Same thing again except after steel wooling apply a coat of paste wax.

On the Watco put it on good and wet. After about a half hour wipe off the excess. I hate doing pins so thats up to you.

 

[mete]

Silicon oxide [silica] ? I was thinking of my wood floors and cabinets -no fog after 10 years ! [clear matt acrylic ].

 

[Wild Rose]

Get yourself some -
WAHKON BAY AQUAFORTIS—2 oz. $8.95. from MICHAEL LEA AND DAUGHTER, 2109 Summit Street, Columbus OH 43201. Telephone 614-291-4757, email <oldguns2109@sbcglobal.net>. Visa/MC.

Aquafortis is THE best way to bring out the grain in maple - it is what the old timers always used on maple and it is what the best of the best contemporary muzzleloading firearms builders (the ones that get 5 to 6 figure payments for their guns and have the worlds most experience in finishing maple) use and it CANNOT be beat. Just follow the directions.

While these photos do not do the color/grain justice it will give you an idea (these are two different tomahawk)s:

I finish in the traditional manner using scrapers followed by burnishing with a piece of smooth antler or bone (NO sandpaper for the final finish - IMO it muddy's the grain on maple). Then after applying the AF I use my own linseed oil, gum turpentine and pine rosin based varnish (something you have to make yourself - if interested let me know.) Other good final finishes are teak oil (as noted by Ray) and Permalyn Gun Stock Finish by Laurel Mountain Forge, who also makes an excellent line of stains specifically for maple if you prefer using it rather than the AF.

BTW - that tacks/brads go on last............

hope this helps.........

 

[shappa]

Wow,
Thanks for the info guys.

WildRose, Thanks for the link.
I'll pass on your recipe for now. It would be overkill for this project but I'll save the thread.