Here are the finished products. I really enjoyed this project. I made a few mistakes but learned a lot doing it. It also doesn't hurt that I'm really pleased with the results.
I don't think I'll be making another handle for anything for a while, at least until my finger prints grow back. I lost them during an estimated 28 hours of sanding.
I went through 80 grit, 150 grit, 220 grit and 400 grit. I then rubbed them down with #000 steel wool.
They then got 8 coats of amber shellac, rubbed out between each coat with 400 grit paper. I left them to dry for 48 hours, gave them a final sanding with 400 grit and then rubbed in 4 coats of Minwax Finishing Wax (I love that stuff) using #0000 steel wool, buffing them out between applications.
Great stuff.
Peace,
Mitchell
Beautiful job. I am amazed at your patience sanding that much. I couldn't manage 10% of that.
ReplyDeleteI love the apple handle and the walnut is not too shabby either. I see so little apple that the novelty level is high and the complexity of the color draws me in.
ReplyDeleteCommendible
Steve
Andy, I usually use a scraper, but there were so many curves, I had no choice but to sand. If I had been more careful with the rasps, it would have needed less sandpaper.
ReplyDeleteSteve, thank you. It took me a couple of years to find the apple stock, which I finally found on Facebook, of all places, in a group called "The Original Wood Traders".