Thread: Tips for finishing scales in sliky smooth, high gloss surface? Okay to polish shank?

I've decided to make my own scales out of madrone wood from my family's ranch and did a trial run on a piece of mesquite I harvested from my back yard. I'm wanting to finish the scales in a smooth, high gloss finish and was wondering what the best way is to do this. Shellac vs. polyurethane? Apply one coat, sand, and apply again, over and over? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Also, the razor is a Dovo Best Quality that has a polished blade but the shank and tang are not polished. Is it okay to polish these parts to a high shine? I was planning on using a Dremel with jeweler's rouge on a felt polishing wheel.

Below is my first attempt with mesquite. I used a chop saw (only suitable piece of equipment I have available) to cut flat pieces, then did the rest by hand with a coping saw and sand paper.



This video from Lewis Razors was my inspiration to start this project: making straight razor scales with a minimum amount of hand tools - YouTube