Finishing re handle

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mdoublestack

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So, I did a re handle for a friend on a sabatier... he bought some stabilized walnut burl scales on ebay. They are cool, but there are a few voids -small, shallow openings - in the wood. How do you guys finish your handles when the scales have that going on. also, what is the basic finishing you guys do on stabilized wood regularly?
 
Small voids can usually be filled with a couple drops of CA glue (super glue).
Apply glue, let dry, repeat if necessary. Then sand.
For larger voids I use fast cure epoxy mixed with sanding dust from the wood.
After you have finished sanding apply a coat of Danish or Tung oil. Let dry and repeat a few times.
Then rub down with 0000 (extrafine) steel wool.
Then apply a paste wax for wood and hand buff with a soft cloth.

This works well on coarse grain woods like Walnut.
The multiple coats of Tung or Danish oil fill the pores for a smoother surface.
The most common mistake I see knife makers make is not filling the pores and then power buff.
That tends to put buffing compound in the open pores resulting in a dull, muddy finish.
 
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