My Tru oil is Gumby dangit

Joined
Oct 1, 2011
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My Birchwood Casey sealer and filler and my Tru oil keeps leaving a gummy finish, this happens used together as recommended or separate, even when wet sanded. Even very thin hand rubbed coats will not seem to harden. What can I do to fix this? Is there a better finish for wood knife handles that will fill the grain?
 
Tru-oil is linseed oil which over time both oxidizes and polymerizes. This takes time .For gunstocks we would apply fairly generously , wait an hour or two for it to soak in, then rub off excess with burlap.Wait at least 24 hours and repeat. Three or four coatings should be ok. It will continue to become more durable with time.
 
What kind of wood are you using it on? There are some that finishes just won't soak in on: cocobolo, ironwood some rosewoods etc. Tru Oil works very well but not on those guys.
 
I agree that you can add a solvent to thin a finish, which is the most common way of doing it. But if you add water to something water-based, doesn't that thin it? Thus, adding more linseed oil to a linseed based finish would essentially "thin" the finish.
 
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