Thread: Ipe scales

I would appreciate some advice from those experienced using wood for scales. I just made some scales using Ipe wood. Should I coat them in CA, tung oil, or what? This is my first wood scale project. They are sanded to 2500 grit and look good, but I am concerned about water protection and/or more of a gloss finish. Thank you.

I'd coat it with tung oil if thats what you have. Ipe is very tough and makes great handles (not sure about thin razor scales), will look deep rich and dark with a quality oil finish, but... it is prone to checking so be careful pinning.

I have used it on a bunch of knives, its good and tough and looks decent.

Oil finishes such as Tung oil won't do much to protect the wood from water, but ipe is pretty tough wood.

My preference would be for something like a wipe on solvent based polyurethane. Yes, it can be plastic looking, but so does CA as it is nothing more than Acrylic plastic, once set.

CA is fast, wipe on poly, not so much, but if done correctly, should be more durable as if you thin the first coat, it will soak in a bit... then go straight from the can. A final sanding and application should result in a glass like finish. I don't like water based poly.... It is crystal clear, but I just don't like it....

Shellac could be used, but it's sensitive to water and WILL dissolve in alcohol, so while time honored, it's not the best choice.

For speed, nothing is faster than wax.... probably repels water better than Tung oil, but it's quite fragile. I'd use wax on a pen or something that won't see much water, but not scales.

I've used all these finishes on turned wood projects where it's easy to generate some heat and harden/polish finishes like CA faster... but I still like wipe on poly the best. I make my own from regular polyurethane and just add some mineral spirits (oil paint thinner) to it.

Regards

Christian

Ipe is a fantastic wood for scales, and should stand up to moisture quite well. What has already been said is great advice, and I would agree with the Tung oil finish, it is easy and will stand up to water very well. Here's a link that will help with any questions you have about the wood. Ipe | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwoods) you will see some of it's cool properties.

I actually just got done doing this Ipe brush that I finished with 3 coats of 100% pure tung oil. Really love the deep colour that came out once I applied the oil. Good luck with the rest of your project.

Nice Brush! Love the deep rich tone that wood takes on with a good oil finish.


Me personally I use Waterlox on all my wood scales, handles,grips, stocks , and calls. It is a modernized tung oil finish with added resin , does a much better job of protecting than straight tung oil but still gives a rich warm oil finish, excellent on the lathe as well. Second place is tru oil for me. Both are excellent gun stock finishes, and do really well on cutlery if applied correctly.
An oil finish if properly done is the best looking in my opinion and does well to protect.


For me no poly ever, yellow and plastic looking to my eye, and CA I don't use for finishes. I know it works but not my bag.

I went with an oil finish. I am happy with the results. Thank you all.