Oiled handle color change

rasret01

rasret01

Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
153
I finished a small knife with obele slabs sanded to 800 grit, coated with danish oil and buffed to a nice gloss. After wearing the knife for a couple of weeks in a pouch sheath, I noticed the exposed wood turning darker. It has changed now to the point that it looks like two different kinde of wood. Any thoughts on stabalizing the color of wood handles?

Dick
 
What was the wood and was it stabilized? Cocobolo(as well as others) is known for oxidizing and turning darker. I've had some success controlling the darkening effect with Australian burls by sanding to 220, applying a sanding sealer(Deft from Lowes), and then finishing the rest of the way to 2000. Short of that, you can try bleaching the wood first so that as it oxidizes, it returns close to the original color....
Matt
 
I made a knife for a friend with cherry wood for the handle. I had a similar problem. I believe it was the leather from the sheath absorbing the finish from the handle. If I would take the knife out and re-oil it, the lighter area would darken and blend in with the exposed part of the handle.

I mostly use Boiled Linseed Oil, but used a different oil/wax mixture on that knife. Once I re-coated it with BLO and let it dry for a few days, the problem went away.

Walter
 
Im not sure about the wood you are using. But I know Cherry actually darkens due to exposure to sunlight. If you put a piece of Cherry out in the sun for a couple days it will be noticably darker.
 
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