More pics of the process:
https://picasaweb.google.com/nphocus...uresInTungOil#

I really am enjoying the organic nature of the tung oil. No fumes. No gloves required. Good feel to it. These have had the grains filled - I believe - by using 400 grit sand paper on a foam block and a good amount of tung oil applied to the work and sand paper. I sanded all surfaces using the same portion of sand paper and sure enough saw a slurry come up in/with the oil and I just worked that in and around all sides and surfaces. That pic is two halves of the scales temporarily bonded together with rubber cement. I'm kind of concerned about them actually being too thin because of all of the sanding I've been doing to them. That's really ironic because I look at my first pair of scales and think they're too thick! Maybe by the third go around I'll have the thickness and definitely the sanding procedure down pat.

That darn it to heck splintery black palm wood on the left is now buttery smooth. I think the first round of tung oil raised the grain and the subsequent sanding and filling has allowed me to smooth it all out pretty well. I would actually like to try a red cherry stain on that black palm wood and see how that pops. When fresh cut, the grain is very bright and striking and would look great as is with just some clear finish. The tung oil really darkened it up.

I am not sure if I'm going to leave these guys at the 400 grit finish or take them up the scale of micromesh to 12,000. If I do, should I keep working the oil in with a slurry in each grit - 12 or so grits to get to 12k - or should I just stop with the oil and work it just like a normal piece of unfinished wood? I do plan on doing a final sealing and buffing coat or ren wax, if that makes a difference.

Thanks,

Bobby