Neem wood handle question

A

Astrodada

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Sep 9, 2005
Messages
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Neem wood always arrived unfinished. And there may have dust, dirt lodged inside the grain. And or over time being used ,dirt can get into the wood grain.

How do you clean that out and how shall neem wood be treated ? Thanks :)
 
Astrodada said:
Neem wood always arrived unfinished. And there may have dust, dirt lodged inside the grain. And or over time being used ,dirt can get into the wood grain.

How do you clean that out and how shall neem wood be treated ? Thanks :)
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Astro I'm not really sure never having worked with the wood but it is hard to go wrong with Murphy's Oil Soap.
That's what the majority of us use when cleaning the rouge and other dirt off the khukuri handles.
I don't know if the Murphy's would be available where you are but I'd bet someone would send you a bottle if need be.;)
 
Nope, no Murphy's here.......I may consider giving the neem handle a light sand down with fine grit sand paper....after i clean it with rubbing alcohol....hoping to dissolve some gummy deposits.....is that OK ? :confused:
 
Steel wool and mineral spirits work for me. Be sure to wipe off any residue afterwards and let it dry for a while before applying oil.
 
neem soap of course for cleaning neem wood.

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I don't like steel wool for wood, because small particles of the steel can become embedded in the wood and rust, staining the wood.

I prefer 3M Synthetic Steel Wool (Google). Norton Abrasives make a similar product. It's like a finer, less abrasive Scotchbrite.

Noah
 
Don't use steel wool on wood you intend to apply a finish to.
Also don't use it if it seems to pull apart on the grain of your wood (or circuitry for that matter..........sorry:rolleyes: ). Go back to sandpaper and smooth some more, then try the steel wool again. It will rust from your sweat, or finish and discolor the wood. I find rust patterns wood very beautiful, but most consider it an eyesore. On curly or figured woods I like to make a rust and soot rub with some oil finish.

Dave is right. Lubricate your steel wool with mineral spirits. It will dissolve mas crap on the handle. Then wipe with tack cloth, and blow off with quick blasts from the air compressor.

I haven't handled any Neem yet, but I saw that it is a light wood. Is the grain open or closed, oak is open (large pores), and maple is closed (small pores)? If the grain is open you have a choice: whether or not to fill the pores. If you don't the finish will have dimples (I find them charming) rather than being smooth as glass. That is unless you put on LOTS of coats. I read in the FAQ that someone put ~70 coats of Tru Oil. Seventy coats of any finish will fill the poors. Fillers are easy to use and would save you at least 50 of those coats even for someone who wants so much depth in the woood it hypnotises you! They also highlight the pattern of poors. Ever filled some old oak with a white filler on one half, then a black filler on the other half. What a difference. Use it on mahogany. WOW! If I had neem I'd pick black filler to darken it a little and bring out the grain. Then finish with several coats of whatever your favorite happens to be. Right now I'm trying the tru-oil finish, but I've heard someone say Spar varnish was good too. When I worked refinishing sailboats with the father-in-law we used lots of spar. It is very good in the elements and will even last a year or two outside in the ocean air, sun, and rain.

Man, I got winded there.....sorry.:foot:

Andy
 
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