What to use on quality wood handles?

nozh2002 · Nov 24, 2007

rifon2 said:
Received a few wood-handled knives recently.

A couple of customs, and some real nice production pieces.

I'm wondering what - if anything - to apply to the wood to enhance its natural patina, highlight the grain, and increase its durability.

A woodworker I know mentioned "tung oil" as excellent, but recommended diluting it with mineral spirits in a very specific ratio.
(I don't really want to get that complicated.)

Any thoughts, comments, recommendations?

Thanks.

Best thing I know so far - Carnauba mix wit silica for smoking pipes. I found it in local Tobacco shop. You may also apply pure Carnauba - WoodCraft has it (anyway it is good to check with them).

Some wood oily by nature - Cocobola, Lignuim Vitae and do not need treatment.

Any oil may change color of the wood - be careful and test it first. For example oil will turn ZebraWood and Zircote completely black, so beautiful pattern will be lost.

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. I read some advices here - be aware that whatever is on shovel handle is one thing and Zircote, Zebrawood, Bocote, etc - exotic hardwood is different thing.

c1swim · Nov 30, 2007

Teak oil is better for hardwoods; mahogany,walnut, teak, ect. Let dry a few days and hand rub w/ non-lint cotton or 0000 steelwool. Lasts longer than Tung or Linseed

DrThunder88 · Nov 30, 2007

I agree with Stretch. Tung oil does cure, but it becomes a boogery and wrinkly white mass. Once cured, this guck won't keep flowing like non-curing oils, even when heated.

According to Bob Flexner's book on wood finishing and a few other readings I've done on the various aspects of oil finishes, it seems that the most important factor in absorption is the viscosity of the oil. Whether the oil is heated or thinned with mineral spirits, it will aid in penetration. I have my doubts that hand-rubbing generates enough heat to significantly decrease the viscosity. In fact, it might be more productive to heat the wood to just on the cusp of uncomfortable. The real benefit I see from rubbing is the polishing and burnishing of the wood's surface.

RKH · Nov 30, 2007

Man, You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I don't know a lot about what to use on wood handles and I have a CR Mnandi with Snakewood handles I wanted to perserve. Thanks gentleman.
RKH

nozh2002 · Nov 30, 2007

RKH said:
Man, You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I don't know a lot about what to use on wood handles and I have a CR Mnandi with Snakewood handles I wanted to perserve. Thanks gentleman.
RKH

Be carefull! Again thing which is good for shovel may ruin quality handle. Use pipe polish - it was designed for expensive wood.

Thanks, Vassili.

StretchNM · Nov 30, 2007

DrThunder88 said:
........The real benefit I see from rubbing is the polishing and burnishing of the wood's surface.

This is true. While there may be a slight viscosity change due to friction from rubbing, the real benefit, the only noticeable benefit, is the burnishing created by the wet/dry, nylon pad, skin from the hand, or steel wool.

nozh2002 · Dec 1, 2007

For hardwood I use 1000, 2000 and 3000 grit sandpaper.

This is Madagascar Rosewood.

After 150 grit

After 320 grit

After 2000 grit

Pipe polish

Final result

For comparison I started with this:

And this is how Snake wood suppose to look:

Thanks, Vassili.

nozh2002 · Dec 1, 2007

Found great polish demo:

Thanks, Vassili.

rifon2 · Dec 1, 2007

Well, my Renaissance Wax arrived.

Really looking forward to trying it out, it's supposedly the real deal.

jaislandboy · Dec 2, 2007

that's some beautiful Rosewood Vasilli ...

I use Flitz wax on my wooden handles ... :thumbup:

nozh2002 · Dec 2, 2007

jaislandboy said:
that's some beautiful Rosewood Vasilli ...
I use Flitz wax on my wooden handles ... :thumbup:

After I tried Pipe Polish - and this mean you cover handle with cotton swab wait 1 - 2 minutes and then polish a bit with fabric - I did not try anything else. Some of those pipes are very expensive and so they use the best for it - I hope. Also it is not sticky and use to stand heat not only from you hand...

Thanks, Vassili.

jaislandboy · Dec 3, 2007

I've got no pipes but that Pipe Polish sure makes that rosewood sparkle Vasilli ...

I bought a can of some Briwax (i believe its made for furniture) but I haven't tried any yet .... this Flitz gun/rifle wax seems to last forever.... :yawn:

sunnyd · Dec 3, 2007

This is a seriously interesting thread to be sure.. I learned quite a bit here. I will have to give Pipe polish a try at some point. Thanks everyone.