KentuckyFisherman
Well-Known Member
For wood scales, both stabilized and not, I usually use an oil blend called Arrow Wood Finish. I love it, but it's a slow, slow, slow process. Been reading about the Armor All and Tru-Oil finish where you supposedly can get at least 4-5 layers added in one evening. I've been working with it on some scales now for a couple of weeks and it doesn't seem to be working right to me. Hoping someone here can help.
I'm working with some thula burl scales that are dry and hard, but not stabilized. I'm putting one drop of Armor All on one side, spreading it with a fingertip, then adding one drop of Tru-Oil in the middle. I start mixing and spreading the oil with my naked fingertip and a slightly cloudy emulsion forms. Keep rubbing and the mix starts drying fairly quick. As the surface starts getting gummy/tacky, I've been making long strokes, trying to level everything out. Then I do the same on the other side. One drop of each ingredient.
At this point there is a tacky film on the wood, so I stand the blade up, held vertical with a small clamp on the blade and let it dry for a couple hours up to overnight. Regardless of drying time, when I come back to the handle it's still tacky to the touch. I've been using a clean cotton rag and buffing the surface slicker before adding a new coat.
Regardless of what I do, I haven't been able to get the finish to dry hard and smooth. I've tried 2-1 Armor All, 2-1 oil and neither seems to change how it ends up. Does this issue have something to do with the type wood? Thula is supposedly in the cedar family, but it doesn't seem either oily or too dense. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks in advance for any help or pointers you can offer.
I'm working with some thula burl scales that are dry and hard, but not stabilized. I'm putting one drop of Armor All on one side, spreading it with a fingertip, then adding one drop of Tru-Oil in the middle. I start mixing and spreading the oil with my naked fingertip and a slightly cloudy emulsion forms. Keep rubbing and the mix starts drying fairly quick. As the surface starts getting gummy/tacky, I've been making long strokes, trying to level everything out. Then I do the same on the other side. One drop of each ingredient.
At this point there is a tacky film on the wood, so I stand the blade up, held vertical with a small clamp on the blade and let it dry for a couple hours up to overnight. Regardless of drying time, when I come back to the handle it's still tacky to the touch. I've been using a clean cotton rag and buffing the surface slicker before adding a new coat.
Regardless of what I do, I haven't been able to get the finish to dry hard and smooth. I've tried 2-1 Armor All, 2-1 oil and neither seems to change how it ends up. Does this issue have something to do with the type wood? Thula is supposedly in the cedar family, but it doesn't seem either oily or too dense. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks in advance for any help or pointers you can offer.
