Water Vs Oil polyurethane?

Colog

Colog

Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Messages
1,341
sorry im such a noob. I was hanging out with some friends tonight and showed them some blade scales i made. I asked them about polyurethane options for the scales. One guy, who worked for a fly rod company, suggested water based polyurethane. the other suggested oil based. I have no idea which is best. any suggestions would be a great help.
 
10 words or less: Water based poly is nowhere near as tough as oil based poly. I finish a lot of wood furniture and gunstocks...and don't like the water based stuff at all. It is not tough at all. Dang, that was not 10 words was it?
 
Neither IMHO.
Actually,It will depend on the type of wood (which you didn't tell us) and what use the knife will get.I don't like any finish OVER my handles.The finish should be IN the handle.Oil finishes,like tung oil,or just stabilized and polished materials will do just fine.
 
bladsmth said:
Neither IMHO.
Actually,It will depend on the type of wood (which you didn't tell us) and what use the knife will get.I don't like any finish OVER my handles.The finish should be IN the handle.Oil finishes,like tung oil,or just stabilized and polished materials will do just fine.
Click to expand...


Well im using red oak(not a good choice i think). The knife is just a beater Hibben Claw, im using it to practice making scales for the first time. It will be carried in a kydex sheath. Any suggestions on how to finish the handle would be much appreciated.
 
The red oak will require the surface be sealed with a sanding sealer once it is to final shape and smooth.After sanding the scales to a finished surface,coat the handle with any good oil finish (Danish oil,tung,Minwax,even linseed). Follow the container directions,but basically - apply liberally and let it soak in for about 10 minutes,and then wipe off the excess.Let dry overnight ,sand very lightly with 4/0 steel wool,then re-apply and wipe off again.Let dry a couple of days,buff lightly with the steel wool and then buff with a soft cloth.Let dry a few more days and apply a good wood finish wax (briwax,paste wax,Renaissance),and buff with a cloth.
 
Bladsmth, thanks for the help. I've finished the wood with oil, so so now ill just apply the finish wax. Ill post a pic of the finished scales then they are final. This is my first attemp so don't expect much lol. Thanks again.
 
late response here....


I use a satin-finish water-based polyurethane varnish on handles here-and-there...and I bet you can't tell the difference (texture and appearance) between it and wax-finished knife. It still "feels like wood"...because the satin stuff penetrates rather than sits on top (like the glossy does). I do 10-20 quick coats (depends on the wood) within 15-20 minutes...let it dry for an hour, hit it few more times and it's done.

It's a moot point, though, since final finish for me is always Briwax buffed in, wiped off and then rubbed out by hand (friction).

For me, the traditional oil finishes take too long, are too fickle, and change the color of the wood too much.


0.02 YMMV "pass the salt"
 
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