What to use for the best finish on natural wood handles?

B

Banjiss

Joined
Feb 13, 2008
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Im looking for some advise from the experienced knife makers out there on the best way to finish my knives. I have been using the "Dem-Bart" stock filler and sealer followed by as many coats of the continental style stock and checker oil as needed to get a smooth finish. I have been applying it over everything on the handle. spacers, pins etc. This has worked well most of the time but I would like to hear how others are doing it. In particular, I have had a bear of a time using this method on a Cocobolo handle . It takes much longer to dry and seems to soak up the oil every time....? HELP!
 
Most of the time I use a quick application of Watco's Danish Oil. Maybe a 2nd coat.

Lately I have used some wipe on poly.
 
Teak oil works pretty nice on Ipe. Other than that I try to use CA (instant glue). Sometimes polyurethane.
 
I like BirchWood Casey Tru-oil but remember to cut it with 1/3 mineral spirits. It takes many coats and just as many days. I would have your wood stabilized instead.
 
I use Johnsons paste wax (yellow can at most hardware and some grocery stores) seems to seal the wood and protect it without giving the plasticky-varnishy feel) eventually my purpleheart handles do brown with use, but it's great on cocobolo. I let people know that the purpleheart will eventually age to brown with the wax, but no one has wanted to substitute varnish which would seal it better.

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different materials require different finishes. I like Super glue on bone.
I mix boiled linseed oil, mineral spirits and spar varnish in equal parts, hand rubbed on hard woods. takes a few days to dry and it needs several coats.
This is a old gun stock finish that is very durable.
On the oily dense tropical hard woods just past wax.
 
When I use Casey's Tru-Oil on a gunstock I wipe on a heavy coat and let it sit for 5 minutes or so then wipe off all I can with rags. Let dry and repeat the cycle 3 or 4 times for a nice low gloss appearance.

K
 
I really think the finish totally depends on what wood you are using. On cocobolo it polishes up and is stable even without a finish so I would just finish, polish, and buff on a coat of renaissance wax.
 
I use tung oil on all of the woods I work with.
Scott
 
Danish oil is my go-to when I need to put a coat on something. It looks nice, it's easy to touch up and it wears farily well. If you go beyond 2 coats you can get a sort of laquered look with it. It's my favorite all-around handle finish.
 
Sand to 2000 grit then light canuba bearing paste wax for cocobolo. Then shoe shine the hanlde with a clean soft cloth. I do the super glue also but it will not soak in very well as cocbolo is very oily to start.
 
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