Here's a follow up on my post above on using CA glue in a finish. This is from Stacy's post on another forum.
The best method of doing raw bog oak is a superglue finish. Bruce Bump developed one that has been the Gold Standard of superglue finishes.
Get a bottle of thin CA.
Get a bottle of CA-Debonder (you can use acetone, but Debonder works a bit better).
Get a stack of cut-up 400 grit sandpaper (3"X3" is good) and other paper up to 2000 grit.
Have a pile of cut up line free rags (do not use paper towels).
After the handle is sanded to 400 grit and is shaped as you want, apply a coat of the CA ... WEAR RUBBER GLOVES! (you can use acetone to remove cured CA from the blade or any place it gets you don't want to sand.
Let sit until mostly cured and then put some debonder on a rag and work the surface rubbing the CA into the wood as it dissolves. Work it for a while until it is smooth, wipe off the excess, and let it dry overnight. Sand lightly with 400 grit paper to remove all CA from the surface and repeat the CA sealing/removing again. The third time, instead of a rag use 400 grit paper on the debonder/CA slurry to wet-sand it into the wood. Once the slurry is gummy, wipe the excess off with a rag and let it dry overnight. Sand and fill at least three to ten more times. Once the handle is completely sealed, you can go up the grits to 2000 grit. Buff with a soft polishing cloth for a final shine. The handle will have a show-winning shine that is IN the wood, not ON it.
Stacy E.Apelt
