Wood finish

[Gliden07]

What's everybody using to finish wood off for a topcoat? The stuff I had dried up so I chucked it! I can't remember the name of it! It worked good but I had to put like 10 coats on! This is going to go on some stabilized Maple. So it's more for looks than anything! I prefer something in a semi-gloss! Thanks!!

 

[coachk]

i use tru-oil... I put it on very light and do multiple coats, but it does a good job

 

[Gliden07]

i use tru-oil... I put it on very light and do multiple coats, but it does a good job

Yeah thats what I've been using! I like the finish but a week to finish off the scales is gotten nuts! I was looking for something I could put on once or twice and be done!

 

[chrisstaniar]

I use a tru-oil/armour-all finish. Each coat dries in about 15 mins and I generally do about 20 coats. It's a finish that was adapted from gunstocks (Woodstock's elixir). It gives a nice shiney and hard finish.

 

[Gliden07]

I use a tru-oil/armour-all finish. Each coat dries in about 15 mins and I generally do about 20 coats. It's a finish that was adapted from gunstocks (Woodstock's elixir). It gives a nice shiney and hard finish.

So you mix Tru-Oil and Armour Oil? If that's the case what's the ratio? Thanks!

 

[chrisstaniar]

So you mix Tru-Oil and Armour Oil? If that's the case what's the ratio? Thanks!

Well you "mix" it on the handle. I put a few drops of armor all on both sides of the handle, just enough to get it wet. Then using a T-shirt I dip a finger tip into the tru-oil and then rub that on the handle. It will turn a white'ish color once mixed. Then I generally rub that in a single direction blade to butt until it has a thin coat and just looks wet. I usually give it 5-10 minutes between coats.

After a few coats you can give it a good wipe to clear up any streaks. After about 10 coats, I'll let it sit over night and then hit it will some 000 steel wool. I keep repeating this process until the handle has a shiny overall appearance. For the last few coats, sometimes I'll just use straight tru-oil but a thin coat. It generally works out to be about 20 coats.

Then give it a day or two to fully dry and harden. Then just give it another good wipe down. I don't buff the handles as the shine from this is good enough. I use this same process on ironwood, blackwood, rosewood, cocobolo, maple, etc. It's not 100% necessary for all of those wood types but the protection it gives the handle is worth it to me.

I'm looking into other options for G-carta to not change the bright colors that come with that product.

 

[wmhammond]

In my opinion the easiest finish is CA Glue. Sand the handle to 600 grit. One coat at a time (I put it on with a little piece of paper towell), dries in 3 min, 800 grit paper between coats, 5 to 8 coats does it. Buff it for high gloss or buff it and 0000 steel wool for a matt finish. The more coats you use the deeper ooking the finish.

Wallace

 

[soundmind]

Well you "mix" it on the handle. I put a few drops of armor all on both sides of the handle, just enough to get it wet. Then using a T-shirt I dip a finger tip into the tru-oil and then rub that on the handle. It will turn a white'ish color once mixed. Then I generally rub that in a single direction blade to butt until it has a thin coat and just looks wet. I usually give it 5-10 minutes between coats.

After a few coats you can give it a good wipe to clear up any streaks. After about 10 coats, I'll let it sit over night and then hit it will some 000 steel wool. I keep repeating this process until the handle has a shiny overall appearance. For the last few coats, sometimes I'll just use straight tru-oil but a thin coat. It generally works out to be about 20 coats.

Then give it a day or two to fully dry and harden. Then just give it another good wipe down. I don't buff the handles as the shine from this is good enough. I use this same process on ironwood, blackwood, rosewood, cocobolo, maple, etc. It's not 100% necessary for all of those wood types but the protection it gives the handle is worth it to me.

I do want to try this at some point.

 

[opaul]

Most of the time I just use the buffer to polish the wood and then wax.

 

[KenH]

Most of the time I just use the buffer to polish the wood and then wax.

On stabilized wood and some natural wood like Rosewood that's the way I do most handles. Sand to 1200 to 2,000 grit, then finish on buffer with really fine rouge.

 

[Gliden07]

Most of the time I just use the buffer to polish the wood and then wax.

I will try this on the next one for sure! This would have been the way to go if it would polish out to the finish I want!

 

[opaul]

Most of the material I use lends itself to buffing and waxing. To keep it looking good the new owner just needs to wax.

 

[badge 405]

I use a tru-oil/armour-all finish. Each coat dries in about 15 mins and I generally do about 20 coats. It's a finish that was adapted from gunstocks (Woodstock's elixir). It gives a nice shiney and hard finish.

I use Tru Oil, but have not used Armour All with it. Do you mind sharing you process? Also what is the difference with, and without the Armour All?

 

[chrisstaniar]

I use Tru Oil, but have not used Armour All with it. Do you mind sharing you process? Also what is the difference with, and without the Armour All?

Scroll up a few posts and you'll see the process that I follow.

The biggest difference is the speed at which it dries. Just using tru-oil is a slow drying process. With normal use of tru-oil if you don't wait until it has fully dried or if you put on too thick of a coat it will get gummy and generally has to be removed. The addition of Armor all speeds up the drying process so you can do a new coat in about 15 mins rather than overnight.

I believe this all started with what is called "Woodstock's Elixir" and was used on gunstocks.

 

[badge 405]

Scroll up a few posts and you'll see the process that I follow.

The biggest difference is the speed at which it dries. Just using tru-oil is a slow drying process. With normal use of tru-oil if you don't wait until it has fully dried or if you put on too thick of a coat it will get gummy and generally has to be removed. The addition of Armor all speeds up the drying process so you can do a new coat in about 15 mins rather than overnight.

I believe this all started with what is called "Woodstock's Elixir" and was used on gunstocks.

thanks

 

[chrisstaniar]

Thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is. Here's an example of African Blackwood and Cocobolo with the Tru-oil/ArmourAll finish. Both woods are very oily and dense. No buffing, 20'ish coats, just hand rubbed. It takes 15 coats, 000 steel wool, hand wipe, and at that point you can see the finish begin to fully coat the wood. Before that it can look a little "streaky", just gotta keep going. The last 5 or 6 coats is when the colors begin to pop and you get the shine.

 

[Gliden07]

Thought I'd better put my money where my mouth is. Here's an example of African Blackwood and Cocobolo with the Tru-oil/ArmourAll finish. Both woods are very oily and dense. No buffing, 20'ish coats, just hand rubbed. It takes 15 coats, 000 steel wool, hand wipe, and at that point you can see the finish begin to fully coat the wood. Before that it can look a little "streaky", just gotta keep going. The last 5 or 6 coats is when the colors begin to pop and you get the shine.

View attachment 84899

Thanks for posting!!