Oil for bocote?

Love that stuff - I have had good results with two coats of tru-oil and a coat of furniture polish.
 
2 coats of tru-oil? How thick do you put each coat? Since I wipe a coat on with my finger, then wipe the coat off, let dry and put more coats on in the same manner, wiping off each coat before allowing it to dry. After 6 or so coats there's a NICE shine.

Col, do you get a shine? OR, are you looking for the "oiled" finish look?

Bocate will polish up pretty good with no finish, take it to 1500 grit or so. BUT - I do think an oil helps fill the pores a bit.

Ken H>
 
Thanks. I was thinking the oily wood wouldn't take truoil well. Seems like I've heard it wouldn't cure. Are ya'll using a catalyst? Its on an oyster knife if that makes a difference. Im not really looking for too much of a shine so I may just sand and buff. Im just making sure it will hold up without a finish other than buffing.
 
Bacote will work just fine with no finish at all - just sand to 1200 to 2,000 grit and polish. Looks good. Tru-oil will dry just fine..... in a few days depending on thickness of coat. As mentioned, wipe on a good coat of tru-oil, then wipe it off with paper towel (or cotton rag is best) and this small bit of oil left will usually dry ready for next coat in 12 to 24 hours.

It's good to thin first coat of tru-oil about half 'n half with mineral spirits to help it soak in a bit more.

I have finished bacote with sanding only, then hit VERY lightly with buffer. Finally a bit of Res wax to finish it off. Looks just fine with no other finish.

Have fun - That's what it's all about :)
Ken H>
 
I'm with Ken...sand to a fine finish and buff with matchless pink. It will take a great shine. Personally, I dislike oil finishes on knives unless there is no other method that will work.
 
Stacy - what about tru-oil finish do you not like? I was thinking you'd provided really good instructions for using tru-oil once upon a time? Myself, I sorta like the looks of a good wood sanded fine and buffed myself, but the wife likes the shine tru-oil gives on her kitchen knives.

Ken H>
 
Most folks put too much on and in layers too thick. It makes a thick and sticky handle coating. Done right it is repeatedly applied in very thin coats that are allowed to dry and then sanded down to bare wood again. It slowly builds up in the wood, not on it. On some species, the wood can take on a chatoyant look.

There are woods and handles that gain from this, but on a knife I much prefer a wood that is dense enough ( or stabilized) to sand and polish with no finish. Gunstocks and target pistols are a different animal, and the quality of the built-up finish shows the skill of the maker.
 
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Thanks for the input Stacy - I do put several coats on with some sanding between coats, but the final result gives a nice shiny finish the wife likes..... and you know about "SWMBO" {g}

Ken
 
Try 8-10 coats and sand back to bare wood each time. The last coat should be sanded to get the look desired and hand buffed. Drying time between coats is very important. Use of a dyer agent and not doing it during high humidity is also needed in places like where we both live.
 
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