Protecting and finishing a handle

AntCaps

AntCaps

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May 6, 2009
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I know it's been discussed to death but in the near future I'll be making my first handle. Iv been thinking about how to finish and protect it, so far iv been using raw linseed oil with good results but I wanted to try something new.
Iv settled on a beeswax turpentine and tung oil mixture 1:1:1
All the reading iv done seems to point to tung oil being a little more suited to the task.
I figure I'll warm up the handle than apply my mixture until it stops absorbing it than wipe off the excess.
Does anyone see any negatives to my plan?
Thanks guys,
Anthony
 
you could apply it to a room temp handle and add heat using a heat gun on low. It will absorb in about 1/8" to 1/4" inch of the surface.

With my own mixture initially, I always apply it twice.....and then once a year at the end of season. That yearly application is rather light though.
 
Tung oil is better protection than BLO. But BLO soaks in and nourishes the wood better. I usually start with a couple coats of BLO and then top it with tung.
 
AntCaps said:
Do you use blo or tung oil in your mixture?
Click to expand...

1 lb beeswax melted in a large coffee can. add;
8 oz boiled linseed oil
8 oz turpentine

remove from heat

Stir gently until it starts to solidify into a paste and then let it set up overnight.

Smear it onto the entire handle. I use a latex glove and do it by hand [that avoids the whole 'BLO spontaneous combustion' thing for me] - and then use a hairdryer on hot/high or heat gun on LOW, force-absorb it into the wood [doesn't take long at all...a few seconds pass actually]. It's easier for me to stuff the latex gloves into a plastic soda bottle filled with water than it is to mess around with rags and the oil....

Do this twice initially and then once a year when the "season's over."

Gives Ash or Maple a pretty orange/brown beeswax color and waterproofs/finishes it like none other. If your haft is already stained or dirty, it will enhance the darkness.
 
I'm using some old Formbys tung finish. I'm told the new stuff doesn't even have any real tung in it. If I were buying new I'd get the Half & Half Tung/Citrus stuff.
 
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