Thuya burl handle.

B

Big_TM

Joined
Mar 7, 2013
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80
Hey guys,
Just picked up some Thuya burl scales and was wondering if anyone has some experience with it and what the best way to get the most out of it looks wise?

Thanks,
Travis
 
I just finished a knife with stabilized Thuya burl scales and found that it works and finishes nicely. The wood is hard, but cuts and sands easily. In my case, there were pits which required at least five applications of applying a finish and then sanding to bare wood again to fill the pores sufficiently. I use Chem-Pak Pro Custom Oil available from Brownells which is a tung oil and urethane mixture. Other wood oils can be used.

In the end, I like the Thuya and will use it again.

I'd recommend a rough and final shaping hand sand to 400 grit. Apply at least 4 - 5 coats of Tung Oil or other sealer/filler to fill all pores and pits allowing at least 24 hours between each application of sealing oil. Sand back to the wood surface with 400 grit. Wet sand with tung or other sealer oil in a finer grit. Allow to dry at least 24 hours. Remove finish with finer grit and wet sand again with sealer. Continue until at about 1200 grit or finer and then buff with a cotton buff and white rouge.

I'll be getting better photos soon, but the following image should give an idea of the final product. It looks much better in person.

IMG_7477_650.jpg


Another photo: (The recurve blade, on top)
IMG_7480_650.jpg


Mike L.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Mike,
What woods are used in the other two knives in the pic? By the way all three look great.
 
I've been using quite a bit of Thuya Burl. I like it, although its a waxy wood and will gum-up all of your abrasives including files. It takes a fine polish with just a buffing, but a very thing coat of Tung oil rubbed in well will help.









-Peter
 
logem said:
I just finished a knife with stabilized Thuya burl scales and found that it works and finishes nicely. The wood is hard, but cuts and sands easily. In my case, there were pits which required at least five applications of applying a finish and then sanding to bare wood again to fill the pores sufficiently. I use Chem-Pak Pro Custom Oil available from Brownells which is a tung oil and urethane mixture. Other wood oils can be used.

In the end, I like the Thuya and will use it again.

I'd recommend a rough and final shaping hand sand to 400 grit. Apply at least 4 - 5 coats of Tung Oil or other sealer/filler to fill all pores and pits allowing at least 24 hours between each application of sealing oil. Sand back to the wood surface with 400 grit. Wet sand with tung or other sealer oil in a finer grit. Allow to dry at least 24 hours. Remove finish with finer grit and wet sand again with sealer. Continue until at about 1200 grit or finer and then buff with a cotton buff and white rouge.

I'll be getting better photos soon, but the following image should give an idea of the final product. It looks much better in person.

IMG_7477_650.jpg


Another photo: (The recurve blade, on top)
IMG_7480_650.jpg


Mike L.
Click to expand...

I see that my redwood burl in the second?
 
And I can give a few tips on thuya. It doesn't stabalize very well, a little worse than redwood burl which itself is hit or miss. Luckily it's much tougher than redwood burl and doesn't strictly speaking need to be.

Thuya should be finished with wax rather than any oil finish. Oils are curing, and the high oil content of Thuya "think about how strongly it smells" means the oil wonto cure and will remain tacky. A carnauba or paste wax finish and are good buff with a muslin wheel is the best finish. This is the same treatment for pretty much any oily exotic, be it rosewood, ebony, snakewood, or any other.
 
Ben,

I'll take your word on the fact that Thuya doesn't need an oil or other finish beyond a fine wax, yet I felt a need to fill in the micro-pits due to the burl. I like a very smooth finish, and the oil/urethane coat that I have been using has dried well. It should be noted that I sand back to the wood after each coat, so all that I am really doing is filling the small crevices. I'm satisfied with the result.

The second knife is indeed Redwood burl, but I bought it from the local knife supply house. I'm fortunate that I work within several blocks of their shop so I stop in every so often to pick over their pieces.

The third (bottom) knife is Buckeye burl.

Thanks,
 
P. McKinley said:
I've been using quite a bit of Thuya Burl. I like it, although its a waxy wood and will gum-up all of your abrasives including files. It takes a fine polish with just a buffing, but a very thing coat of Tung oil rubbed in well will help.









-Peter
Click to expand...
Sure is nice work. Pete. I have used some stabilized thuya burl and like it.
 
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