Hello, drawing on the community knowledge here again, hope someone can help.
I have a knife that Mick91 did for me last year, it has a beautifully figured yew handle , and hasn't been varnished or oiled I don't think, as Mick said that the yew would darken and perhaps discolour if the wrong thing was applied.
Apparently the yew has a chemical in its wood , much like the tannin in oak , that can react with certain products...
Now I use tung oil for most woods or boiled linseed oil for tool handles and my axe haft , but I'm worried I might ruin the yew grain colour and/or figure contrasts (orange and dark brown) if I use it on this handle...
Would any of you gentlemen know of a definitive product (natural or synthetic) that would not only feed and protect the yew but also enhance its beautiful colour?
I have smudged it whilst sharpening, as I use Japanese water stones and its a messy affair...
So now I've used 0000 wire wool to clean it, that worked a treat , but now it needs a coat of oil or wax or both?
Or , should I just leave it naturally untreated?
I don't have any other pieces of yew to play with and test out , but I though maybe beeswax would do the trick?
Any ideas or thoughts are very welcome.
Thank you in advance
Best regards
I have a knife that Mick91 did for me last year, it has a beautifully figured yew handle , and hasn't been varnished or oiled I don't think, as Mick said that the yew would darken and perhaps discolour if the wrong thing was applied.
Apparently the yew has a chemical in its wood , much like the tannin in oak , that can react with certain products...
Now I use tung oil for most woods or boiled linseed oil for tool handles and my axe haft , but I'm worried I might ruin the yew grain colour and/or figure contrasts (orange and dark brown) if I use it on this handle...
Would any of you gentlemen know of a definitive product (natural or synthetic) that would not only feed and protect the yew but also enhance its beautiful colour?
I have smudged it whilst sharpening, as I use Japanese water stones and its a messy affair...
So now I've used 0000 wire wool to clean it, that worked a treat , but now it needs a coat of oil or wax or both?
Or , should I just leave it naturally untreated?
I don't have any other pieces of yew to play with and test out , but I though maybe beeswax would do the trick?
Any ideas or thoughts are very welcome.
Thank you in advance
Best regards