Lightening up wood color?

G

Gendry

Joined
Jul 19, 2014
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So I bought a pair of ironwood scales for this knife I am working on, and they are really beautiful, deep red and black and purple ripples. Problem is I cut a piece off the end and sanded it up to 2000 and tried applying some polyurethane miniwax to it which I normally do, it gave it a nice glass look, but it also darkened it up a few shades, you can hardly see the patterns anymore. I did another piece with some oil and it darkened it up too.

Is there anything I can apply, or any way I can work this this wood to brighten it up and bring out the contrast more, rather then darken it? Now that I think about it, every way I've tried to finish wood always ends up darkening it..
 
I have done a few oyster knives with ironwood and didn't put anything on them. Ironwood is really oily and doesn't take finishes well. Your best bet in my opinion is to sand the finish back off to whatever grit you want and buff it. It will take a good shine without anything on it. This is one of my oyster knives with ironwood.
Gendry said:
So I bought a pair of ironwood scales for this knife I am working on, and they are really beautiful, deep red and black and purple ripples. Problem is I cut a piece off the end and sanded it up to 2000 and tried applying some polyurethane miniwax to it which I normally do, it gave it a nice glass look, but it also darkened it up a few shades, you can hardly see the patterns anymore. I did another piece with some oil and it darkened it up too.
Is there anything I can apply, or any way I can work this this wood to brighten it up and bring out the contrast more, rather then darken it? Now that I think about it, every way I've tried to finish wood always ends up darkening it..
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Ironwood doesn't need to be sealed. Take to 1000-2000 grit and buff with White Diamond or Green chrome followed by Scratchless Pink very lightly.
It will take an awesome shine.
 
I agree with Hankins. Only diff is after the pink scratchless I put on a coat of car wax with carnuba in it on the handle. Buff that off and sizzle.
 
In my experience ironwood darkens soon after finishing. But like the others have said, sand to a high grit and then polish gently on a buffer.
 
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