Thread: Help with a High Gloss Tung Oil finish

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

The reason is that real ebony is now considerd a non-sustainable wood,is a hugh black market for illegle ebony.
Sort of like the african blood diamonds and poached Ivory.
Some of the woods you see today are being replaced by almost like and kind,black wood for ebony, vera wood for lignum. they look the same, but not the same.

right I get what your saying but.... I'm not talking about ebony I am talking about african blackwood. I think you were missing my point .African blackwood was and has been used for bagpipes exclusively as far back as 1200's maybe more. I speak strictly about the bagpiping world on that.And not the what's happening "now" reason for wood shortages. That's what I was trying to explain to you. "Ebony was not the preffered wood for bagpipe manufacturers".Although it has been used . And the reason I gave for them hoarding their stock is what I was told by top pipers and Some manufacturers/artisans ......anyway off topic. G'nite

Guys, thanks so much for all of your input, ill give the try oil a try. And thanks for the bagpipe information too lol

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

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I guess the easy answer as to why wood was not a traditional scale/brush handle material was that they did not have the modern sealers and finishes we have today. They used the materials they had that did not absorb moisture much as woods. I have not a thing against other materials used either original types or modern synthetics. I just like the grains and colouration in various woods. With modern sealers and finishes that is now a practical possibility that was not available before. Each to his/her own.

Bob

BobH
agree 100%,things have come a long way for sure.Am seeing more and more stabilized wood products being offered these days,that may be the ultimate way of using wood for alot of applications.

Originally Posted by BobH

I guess the easy answer as to why wood was not a traditional scale/brush handle material was that they did not have the modern sealers and finishes we have today. They used the materials they had that did not absorb moisture much as woods. I have not a thing against other materials used either original types or modern synthetics. I just like the grains and colouration in various woods. With modern sealers and finishes that is now a practical possibility that was not available before. Each to his/her own.

Bob

Apart from water resistance, another factor to consider is that traditional materials were more flexible than wood in that they were able to be flexed into a shape that compensated for warped/assymetric tangs which were common.

Originally Posted by BobH

I guess the easy answer as to why wood was not a traditional scale/brush handle material was that they did not have the modern sealers and finishes we have today. They used the materials they had that did not absorb moisture much as woods. I have not a thing against other materials used either original types or modern synthetics. I just like the grains and colouration in various woods. With modern sealers and finishes that is now a practical possibility that was not available before. Each to his/her own.

Bob

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Apart from water resistance, another factor to consider is that traditional materials were more flexible than wood in that they were able to be flexed into a shape that compensated for warped/assymetric tangs which were common.

Bingo !!!


One should also use the finish approriate to the wood being used, once you pick the wood use Google and see how others have finished it, some woods just don't take to a Tung Oil or a Blended Tung Oil finish... Some woods it really makes no difference...

There are tons of wood finishing "Tricks" most every "Tung" oil I have used recommends a first cost sanding of no higher then 220 as it allows the oil to penetrate, a thinned down first couple of coats or "Washcoats" really help the finish.. If you do that and then sand in the next coats with 600 Wet-r-Dry you can get a very nice base... I also use a finger when using "Tung" oils I believe in the Warmth Theory

Good luck

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Apart from water resistance, another factor to consider is that traditional materials were more flexible than wood in that they were able to be flexed into a shape that compensated for warped/assymetric tangs which were common.

For sure, their quality control and their ability to produce to a uniform standard was not as good as today. I have had to straighten a tang. The old materials had their faults also, they could just as easily warp over time in an unwanted fashion. I have a set of horn scales that need to be straightened. Not much is perfect I guess.

Bob