Polishing wooden handles

[Jrmysell]

Both of these handles are stabilized maple burl. Kitchen knife is sanded to 1500, then 2 coats of tru oil. Then firm rub with my tshirt to take the shine down. Necker is to 2000 with 3 coats of tru oil. Then a couple coats of carnuba wax.

Is the saya spalted tamarind?

 

[Fred.Rowe]

This is a new EDC I made for myself. The handle is KOA. It was taken to 1200, burnished using a smooth White Tail antler tine to start, this was followed with the edge of 10/12 oz leather, the final burnish was a piece of Levi material wrapped around a 1/4 inch brass rod. A coat of Frog Lube was applied to the surface and polished with soft cotton material.

The engraved section is plain mild steel that has been hot blued; the blade is hot blued as well.

The blade is HHH Damascus. The engraving of the pine tree and rising sun was done by my son, Kevin, on a Sherline CNC mill. The image is a common symbol in the martial arts world, the sun stands for daily rebirth, the tree stands for the ability to bend without breaking. Opposite the pine tree and rising sun will be engraved Shuri Ryu and the dates I was involved in the art. 1992 - 2008.m

Fred

 

[TonyRV2]

Beautiful knife Fred. When I grow up, I want to make knives just like yours.

 

[Wulf]

Nice piece of koa there Fred - looks beautiful. Thanks for showing it.

Is there any risk of damaging or weakening the wood fibers through the burnishing process?

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Nice piece of koa there Fred - looks beautiful. Thanks for showing it.

Is there any risk of damaging or weakening the wood fibers through the burnishing process?

As long as the burnishing tool has no rough spots, I have never damaged any wood. Use the pressure appropriate for how soft or hard the wood being used is.

Fred