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  #1  
Old 11-30-2007, 05:31 PM
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Foxjaw Foxjaw is offline
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Mesquite

I have a fairly blonde piece of mesquite here, just wondered if any of you gents had any ideas for staining or finishing it ? It would be nice to have it show grain and be a little bit darker.

Thanks

Foxy
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  #2  
Old 11-30-2007, 08:56 PM
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I use Danish Oil. It comes in colors from light oak to black. Experiment a bit.

Chuck


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  #3  
Old 11-30-2007, 10:19 PM
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send it to ken McFall at K&G and let him stabilize it for you,,,
the polomers will darken it a little and the figure should "pop"
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  #4  
Old 12-01-2007, 12:30 AM
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You need to bounce this one off Robert Hensarling - aka rhrocker. He does more with mesquite than all the rest of the KNet members combined.


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Last edited by TexasJack; 12-01-2007 at 12:30 AM. Reason: Can you believe I spelled mesquite wrong??
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  #5  
Old 12-01-2007, 07:35 AM
Tai Google Tai Google is offline
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You could just get some wood stain at the hardware store.

If you have any ferric chloride laying around, it will stain it,... but be sure to neutralize it afterwards.

Another thing that works is rubbing it with sweaty hands, and give it some time to patina before you oil it.

You can also try some nose oil.


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Old 12-01-2007, 08:11 AM
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fOXJAW, I assume that you're referring to the reddish heartwood, and not the sapwood (usually a very yellow band around the outter part of the heartwood, and just inside the bark). Woodchuck is right, try using Watch Danish Oil (Ace). I'd go with natural and see how you like it. The oil will penetrate into the wood and darken it quite a bit (I use it on most of my knife handles). Another really good oil is Tru-Oil, a Birchwood-Casey product. It's drawback is the long drying time.
As far as stabilizing it, I don't reccomend it. I sent about 50 blocks off to be stabilized. The polomer that is used darkens the wood way to much for my taste. My color didn't "pop". There are several companies offering stabilization, you might send a block off to each and see what you get. If you want the reddish color that's on the handle in my avatar, then just make sure the wood is dry, and sand down to 320, then apply the Watco. I usually put 2 coats a day, in the morning and evening, for 2 - 3 days. Then buff, and wax with any good paste wax. A floor wax is fine.
BTW, if Mesquite is exposed to the sun for several weeks, or longer, it seems to lose it's reddish tint and fade back to the yellow you mentioned. It's easily rejuvenated with oil, regaining much of it's lost color.


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Old 12-01-2007, 08:27 AM
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Thanks to all. Theres more to mesquite than meets the eye !
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  #8  
Old 12-03-2007, 02:32 PM
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I forgot to mention "ear wax"!


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Last edited by Tai Google; 12-03-2007 at 04:27 PM.
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Old 12-03-2007, 09:38 PM
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Aaaaaaghh thats sick !
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Old 12-04-2007, 07:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxjaw
Aaaaaaghh thats sick !
Foxjaw, it's not sick at all!!! You just have to know how to make plenty of it. Using my process, you may even be bottling it after a few weeks. Ok, ready to hear it? Drum roll please,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,Simply find a queen bee, stuff her in your ear, block off the ear canal so that she can't leave, but bee's that want to "court" her can get past the blockage, and Whaa-laaa , a bee colony, ='s wax! Don't try this at home! Also, don't try it unless I do (and that ain't gonna happen)


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  #11  
Old 12-04-2007, 07:49 AM
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Don't knock it! It could be a great selling point!


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  #12  
Old 12-04-2007, 07:51 AM
Tai Google Tai Google is offline
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Hey Foxy, did I ever tell you about the traditional "piss patina" for bronze? It's totally natural! I believe it's quite rare these days.


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Old 12-04-2007, 11:12 AM
Martin Brandt Martin Brandt is offline
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Speaking of ear wax, side of the nose grease and behind the ear grease have always been a standard lubricant for fishing rod ferrules., or good for fogging up a buddies glasses while they're sleeping in camp. The side of nose grease is also great for that door latch that just goes bang but doesn't slide in and latch. Just a quick finger rub, apply to striking area of latch and vwala! the door shuts better. Good to follow up with a lube spray later to the sides of latch. Never did figure out what toe jamb is good for tho. But navel lint is great for catching a spark when primitive fire starting, it's always dry. Just gettin back to the basics folks.
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  #14  
Old 12-04-2007, 01:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tai Google
Hey Foxy, did I ever tell you about the traditional "piss patina" for bronze? It's totally natural! I believe it's quite rare these days.


Now those were the good ol' days.


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  #15  
Old 12-04-2007, 03:50 PM
Tai Google Tai Google is offline
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They don't have to end bro!


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