Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Finish for Rosewood handles?

I'm just finishing up a skinner for a buddy. The handles are Rosewood. What finish would all you knifemaker's suggest? I was thinking of using Sitka Deer's (Art) epoxy method.

Thanks......Jeff

Buff it and wax or no buffer just sand fine and wax then rub hard with towel to polish

I've got it sanded to 400 grit. What kind of wax? I have beeswax on hand.

If I went the buffer route, do you use anything on the buffer wheel or just a plain cotton wheel?

thanks for the help.....Jeff

Buff with White Compound on a cotton wheel, then use a good grade of wax, a type of wax like you would use on a gunstock, and hand buff.

Be sure and use White compound. Green Chrome Rouge and Red rouge will get in the pores of the wood and you will never get it out.

You might want to sand to 600 or 800 before lightly buffing with white compound.

I have never tried to put a finish on any of the oily, tropical woods like Rose Wood or Coco Bolo. Epoxy might bond to oily wood, but I don't know. Sitka Deer might have the answer to this.

I've used Tru-Oil with some success although I'll bet there are better materials. I sand to 600 grit and clean between coats. My experience is limited to Bolivian and Indian Rosewood, two knives each so I'm not the best one to ask.

I have noticed the coating doesn't hold up well under heavy wet use. The coating fails and the grain raises requiring another finishing but it is easy to complete.

Tru Oil should give it a gloss and make the grain stand out. Another option would be to use Super Glue. Spread on 3 or 4 coats, let dry, sand smooth, and polish.

A lot will depend on what the knife will be used for.

If it gets bloody, then you wash it with dish detergent, you are going to remove most any type of finish.

That is the reason I never tried to put much of a finish on Coco-Bolo and Rose Wood. Also the same for Ironwood and Aftican Blackwood.

I sanded smooth and plished with white rouge and a cloth wheel. When the handle gets looking washed out, and it will if used frequently, just sand lightly and polish again. A coat of wax will prolong the finish, but if you get it wet and wash it, the handle is going to lose the natural oils.

Oils dont penetrate well in rosewoods and IMHO you cant beat a highly polished rosewood (2000 grit)and Ren wax or Bri was finish. But Im a leave it natural kind of guy