#2270692 - 06/23/08 11:04 AM
Finish grit on soft wood?
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varmintsinc
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 06/25/04
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Loc: East Bay, California
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What do you guys finish at as far as the wood? I usually use micarta or hard woods but have a nice block of maple Im finishing right now. Im down to 400 and it looks nice but Im not sure how much finer to go. I will finish the topcoats with 1000 wet/dry but was not sure on the wood itself.
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#2270773 - 06/23/08 11:48 AM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: varmintsinc]
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GPA
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Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 1003
Loc: Upstate NY
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Interestingly, I wouldn't consider maple a softwood. Depending on the topcoat you plan to use, I would think 400 would be fine for the wood: smooth, but with still a little "biting edge" for the topcoat.
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#2270780 - 06/23/08 11:54 AM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: GPA]
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fish30ought6
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Registered: 06/26/02
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Loc: On the Warrior River
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400 is OK, I think, but you might want 800 - or 0000 steel wool - to finish the first layer or two of your finish.
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#2270812 - 06/23/08 12:22 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: fish30ought6]
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Boise
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Again, I'm FAR from an expert, but I've been using 320 prior to finish and then 600 after applying TruOil. I tried steel wool but found it left a grayish residue in the grain.
I'm betting we would all get to see the finished knife sooner if you would just stick with the 400 grit - we must be getting close since you're discussing the final step. 
I've rubbed my own knives a whole bunch with 600 grit and the ugly never seems to come off completely.
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#2270946 - 06/23/08 01:56 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: varmintsinc]
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e3ck
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Registered: 04/28/08
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I'd go 400 also
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#2270961 - 06/23/08 02:05 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: e3ck]
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varmintsinc
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Thanks guys, Im on the road for work and I should be done by the time Im home. This knife has gone slow because I have done almost everything by hand as a means of getting back to the basics. I did cheat and used the drill press for the handle, I could not fathom doing it by hand.
I never thought maple was soft either but compared to the Brazilian rosewood it may as well be butter. When I split a block on my saw I got sparks and smoke off the rosewood while using a new blade.
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#2273038 - 06/24/08 03:43 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: varmintsinc]
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fish30ought6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Same for black locust ...
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><>fish30ought6<><
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#2273044 - 06/24/08 03:45 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: fish30ought6]
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fish30ought6
Campfire 'Bwana
Registered: 06/26/02
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and yes, steel wool will live microscopic bits in the wood, which i learned the hard way. i don't use it now until the wood is sealed and a finish or two on.
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><>fish30ought6<><
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#2273169 - 06/24/08 05:29 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: fish30ought6]
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varmintsinc
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I dont even think I have any steel wool in the garage, learned the hard way on a gunstock that wool will get trapped in the finish and make a lovely blem. All I have it the 3M synthetic wool.
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Hunt hard, kill clean, waste nothing and offer no apologies.
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#2273343 - 06/24/08 06:57 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: varmintsinc]
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rob p
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Registered: 11/14/05
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I learned something from a guitar maker about finishing wood. Wet it with a cloth. When the grain raises, sand it off. Do that 5 times and it should not raise when finishing. I use 80 down to 220 and then start coating with tru oil.
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#2274685 - 06/25/08 12:01 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: rob p]
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fish30ought6
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"3M synthetic wool"
Never heard of such. Find it in a paint store? Big box retailer?
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><>fish30ought6<><
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#2275008 - 06/25/08 02:58 PM
Re: Finish grit on soft wood?
[Re: fish30ought6]
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varmintsinc
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Orchard supply hardware
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