Which oil for a handle : Juniperus Oxycedrus

[chris7273]

I have a knife with a handle made of Juniperus Oxycedrus (Cade in French), see this link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_oxycedrus

The handle was a little too wide for my hands and I reshaped it : now the handle is finished and the wood is no more protected (I sanded it). This wood is very particular : it is hard, clear and it smells very good (Juniperus).

I want to protect it and I wonder which treatment would be the best to alter as little as possible the smell and the color (may be darker, to some extent). This an outdoor knife and I would like a good protection.

The former handle was dark and I don't know which treatment was used by the knife maker.

I have read some posts and here are some of possible options :
- linseed oil
- Mix 50/50 : Linseed oil / Terpentine
- Danish oil (I don't know this)
- ???

Advises welcome.

Thank you

 

[jojo]

To some extent, they all will alter and cover the smell of the wood. And anyway, after a while, the smell of the wood will disappear in any case.

You can use boiled linseed oil on its own, or mixed with true turpentine 50/50. You can also use a mix of boiled linseed, turpentine and pine tar in equal measures, I like that one it smell very nice...(to me anyway )

You can use Danish oil, also Pure Tung Oil. I have used all of these, and my favourite is the linseed, turp and tar one. That one darkens the wood a bit.

The Tung Oil is the one that would least change the colour of the wood.