- Joined
- Feb 21, 2001
- Messages
- 4,238
I've been asked by Ilbruche to give my method for refinishing handles. This is just what works for me. You can do a search on refinish, or woodchuck, to see what others have done. More than one way to skin a cat. Mine is a deep, glossy finish. Some prefer less glossy. If you do, just use less coats and lightly buff the last coat with 0000 steel wool or worn out scotchbrite, then wax.
Steve Ferguson
First, use 2-3 layers of masking tape to cover the sharp edge of the knife for safety!
1. Use mineral spirits or paint thinner and a toothbrush to remove the red rouge polishing compound if necessary, then wrap masking tape around the bolster to protect it from scratches.
2. Start sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. When down to bare wood, move to 320 grit, then 400, 600 grit, always sanding with the grain. I use a hacksaw blade with the "set" of the teeth ground off the sides to clean out the grooves.
3. Apply a heavy coat of Tru-Oil with your finger. You can even sand the wet Tru-Oil with 600 grit sandpaper to make a slurry of wood and finish to help fill the grain. Smooth it off with your finger.
4. After 2 days wipe off any that is still tacky, and let it dry 1 more day. Use a toothpick to clean finish out of the grooves.
5. Lightly sand with 1000 grit wet or dry sandpaper. Wet the sandpaper in a bowl of water. It makes the finish very smooth, and keeps the paper from loading up. You don't want to remove a lot of finish, just dull and smooth it. You can reuse this piece of sandpaper until you complete one handle.
6. Dry off the handle thoroughly and recoat with a VERY THIN coat of Tru-Oil.
7. The following night, if the finish is dry, wet-sand, dry it off, and recoat with a THIN coat of Tru-Oil. Repeat every night until the pores are filled, and you can look deep into the finish and see the soul of the handle. This will be from 10-20 coats.
No stain is used.
Chandan and Rosewood are very oily woods. I have had problems with the Tru-Oil staying tacky for many days. If this happens, after each coat I heat the handle with a hair dryer for 2 or 3 minutes to set the finish. It seems to harden the finish before the woods natural oils can leach into it.
I'm not recommending these methods, just reporting what I've done. As always, your mileage may vary.
Thanks to Walosi and Yvsa for their input and past posts regarding refinishing handles!
Steve Ferguson
Steve Ferguson
First, use 2-3 layers of masking tape to cover the sharp edge of the knife for safety!
1. Use mineral spirits or paint thinner and a toothbrush to remove the red rouge polishing compound if necessary, then wrap masking tape around the bolster to protect it from scratches.
2. Start sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. When down to bare wood, move to 320 grit, then 400, 600 grit, always sanding with the grain. I use a hacksaw blade with the "set" of the teeth ground off the sides to clean out the grooves.
3. Apply a heavy coat of Tru-Oil with your finger. You can even sand the wet Tru-Oil with 600 grit sandpaper to make a slurry of wood and finish to help fill the grain. Smooth it off with your finger.
4. After 2 days wipe off any that is still tacky, and let it dry 1 more day. Use a toothpick to clean finish out of the grooves.
5. Lightly sand with 1000 grit wet or dry sandpaper. Wet the sandpaper in a bowl of water. It makes the finish very smooth, and keeps the paper from loading up. You don't want to remove a lot of finish, just dull and smooth it. You can reuse this piece of sandpaper until you complete one handle.
6. Dry off the handle thoroughly and recoat with a VERY THIN coat of Tru-Oil.
7. The following night, if the finish is dry, wet-sand, dry it off, and recoat with a THIN coat of Tru-Oil. Repeat every night until the pores are filled, and you can look deep into the finish and see the soul of the handle. This will be from 10-20 coats.
No stain is used.
Chandan and Rosewood are very oily woods. I have had problems with the Tru-Oil staying tacky for many days. If this happens, after each coat I heat the handle with a hair dryer for 2 or 3 minutes to set the finish. It seems to harden the finish before the woods natural oils can leach into it.
I'm not recommending these methods, just reporting what I've done. As always, your mileage may vary.
Thanks to Walosi and Yvsa for their input and past posts regarding refinishing handles!
Steve Ferguson
