Posts: 264
Tue 07 Sep, 2010 11:00 am
I had some time to work on this
seax a little more this weekend. I finished shaping the handle, stained it, and started sealing it with linseed oil. Since I'm trying to use as many historically correct methods as I can (while not shunning my "electric apprentices" like the belt grinder), I used a simple home-made stain to stain the handle.
This consists simply of fine steel/iron filings (which i kept while working on this blade) dissolved in white wine vinegar. I let the mixture sit in the Southern California sun all day (letting it sit longer -- up to a week -- will give an even darker stain). It's pretty neat to watch the filings dissolve once the mixture heats up...you can see the released hydrogen (i believe) bubbling up. Makes you feel like a real alchemist!
Anyways, here was my procedure for the stain:
-Hand rub the handle all the way up to a shiny 2000 grit (this was over a couple nights, sitting on the porch, while my wife read). Apparently, the higher and more even the finish, the more smoothly the stain will take (makes sense).
-Gently and evenly heat the handle over the stove. Keep the handle moving and do not let it char.
-Brush the stain on evenly. Let sit for a minute or two and reheat the handle over the stove until the stain dries/evaporates.
-Repeat the application of the stain and heating until you are satisfied.
-Mix up some water and baking soda and rub this over the handle to neutralize any remaining acids.
-Let the handle dry (heat it gently over the stove again, if you prefer), and seal it (in my case with linseed oil).
Pictures don't do curly maple justice, as it has an almost 3d holographic effect as you shift it around relative to a light source, but here it is so far:
[ Linked Image ]
Thanks for looking,
Dustin