Brazilian Rosewood Color?

First off I have to say that I have worked with some other rosewoods, but none have smelled anything as fragrant as this. Anyway to the question. I was wondering if anyone knows a way to bring out the color more. The color so far after experimenting with wiping it down with different things has been a brownish/purplish/reddish color, but seems to really darken with everything I have tried so it is hard to see the coloring. I don't know if heat will brighten the colors like it does with purpleheart. Thought I would ask others that have worked with this or similar more often than I have.

IIRC on the Browning Medalist I had the grips were Brazilian Rosewood and were more reddy brown in colour like the one here BROWNING MEDALIST LEFT-HAND ROSEWOOD GRIPS - BRAND NEW! w F for sale (926422424) .

Bob

I am wondering if there is a way to bring the color out more. Did you do anything to bring the color out more?

No, I never did anything to mine to bring the colour out. The example in the link is pretty much the way they came out of the box on my pistol. Haven't a clue as to the finish but it was hard, smooth and glossy. I wonder if crazy glue might do the trick.

Bob

Here's a good vid on some oil finishing. If you want a high end oil finish, and yes it will bring out the color, use waterlox or Birchwood Casey Tru oil. I've yet to use waterlox, but the tru oil brings out the figure in the wood amazingly well. It also drys with a hard outer shell.

Waterlox is crazy expensive, $45 a quart. But I've heard nothing but amazing things about it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A2sKDK3RMwk


I should add a product called Tried and True Varnish oil. I've been using it on bottle stoppers I've been making and I can say it's a great product. Non toxic, food contact safe, and made from ( and I quote the company) "made from the Trees, the bees and the seeds"

http://www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com/

And you can get their products at LeeValley.com

Great Vid, thx for the post,have used true oil for 30 yrs on gunstocks,is great stuff but you need about 25 coats,all hand rubbed between each coat to get a deep glowing finish.
You can make true oil, 50% linseed,50% Naptha (lighter fluid) works great.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Great Vid, thx for the post,have used true oil for 30 yrs on gunstocks,is great stuff but you need about 25 coats,all hand rubbed between each coat to get a deep glowing finish.
You can make true oil, 50% linseed,50% Naptha (lighter fluid) works great.

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I was hoping you would post that formula Pixel. You've posted it before and I forgot the formula. I really want to try it. You've said in the past that it needs to be artist grade linseed oil, right?

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Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I was hoping you would post that formula Pixel. You've posted it before and I forgot the formula. I really want to try it. You've said in the past that it needs to be artist grade linseed oil, right?

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Artist Grade in almost Clear in color,I think it makes for a better finish,JMO

I am just going to think out loud, and i might be completely off, but just as an idea, that might be worth giving it a ty ..

the color usually gets lost to some extent due to it getting darker which is also due to oxidation? so if this is correct maybe some antioxidizers might help like H2O2 (take care, agresive for skin etc in higher concentrations), or lemon juice or stuff like it,.. but than again you would have to experiment, and probably seal the wood pretty good to in order to maintain it

I usually use tung oil which brings out the color nice, but does darken the wood just a bit too

hope it helps a little

Using oils such as linseed oil will darken the wood, if you want to avoid darkening you can use super blonde shellac.