[Cobo]

I was just wondering, what's everyone's doing to prevent water damage to their new, wood scales?

[CactusBob]

I've started using something called Arrow Wood Finish. I like the way it covers, I'm still trying to get it to shine the way I want tho.
I've also use CA it can be difficult to work with and messy but it looks nice when its done

Bob

[fotoguru]

I'm partial to a boiled linseed or tung oil treatment. Gives it that softness and warmth I like out of wood. I'm actually in the process of rubbing danish oil on a set of scales right now.

These are my yinyang scales out of some bubinga and eucalyptus scraps. Only one coat of danish oil on right now...gotta rub 4-5 more in and then wax 'em. I'll post em up when they're done and have a razor in them.

[Philadelph]

Originally Posted by Cobo

I was just wondering, what's everyone's doing to prevent water damage to their new, wood scales?

Taking those new wood scales and replacing them with something else! lol Actually I do prefer synthetic materials nowadays, but I use either CA or a wipe on Poly for wood. Then coat it in Renaissance wax and buff.

[fotoguru]

Blasphemy!

love those carbon fiber scales tho...

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Taking those new wood scales and replacing them with something else!

[riplikash]

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Taking those new wood scales and replacing them with something else! lol Actually I do prefer synthetic materials nowadays, but I use either CA or a wipe on Poly for wood. Then coat it in Renaissance wax and buff.

Ech. While a am truly impressed with what people can accomplish with synthetics, I could never own more than one myself. Natural materials always attracted me a lot more. Especially wood.

I'm interested to see where this thread goes as I'm getting ready to start finishing my first few sets of scales.

Are oil finishes really sufficient for a razor? Oil has always been my favorite finish, I love the softness of well polished wood, but I would have thought you would need something a bit hardier to seal it off. I got really excited about the possibilities of the epoxy resin finish. It seemed like you could do some "inlays" (not the right word) by placing things on the wood then epoxying over it. Nameplates for instance.

[Milton Man]

I've done a set of scales in CA, and to tell you the truth, that was the messiest and most frustrating wood working experience I've ever had - one coat I could smooth out no problem, the next coat the moment my gloved finger hits the CA, I'm instantly bonded for life, and have to sand out the ripped off latex glove.

I'm going to be trying wipe on poly for my next job on a W&B wedge, so I'll be sure to report back. I may even splurge and also buff the poly with some conservator's wax (aka Renaissance wax). I also want to try some tung oil and conservator's wax as well, just to see the differences in finish.

Mark

[floppyshoes]

I have no favorites. I let the wood and my taste guide me. There are simply too many variables to say one finish is better than the others. Here are just a few of the big ones:

-Wood Properties

• Grain type
• Porosity
• Moisture Content
• Oil Content
• Firgure
• Natural Durability
• Colors and Tones

-Taste in finish

• Thickness
• Glossiness

-Under the finish, will there be any Stain, Hardener/Stabilizing Agents etc. ? Should there be?


You see how it's difficult to say what my favorite is, considering I work will all sorts of wood.

[gssixgun]

TY Dan, that is really the answer I would go with too, huge +1 from me.......
Floppyshoes is telling you the right thing here, what finish you use, and sometimes even that you can use, is really determined by the wood itself....

[vgod]

my finish of late has been 3-4 coats tung oil, followed by 2 coats of rub on poly. this last set i only did this to the outside and i am putting CA on the inside. we will see how this turns out.

vgod