Finish for tool handles

Hello everyone,
I picked up a Stanley no3 at a garage sale recently and I am in the process of restoring it. It has what I presume is rosewood knob and tote. The finish on these was old and cracked though after sanding down to bare wood they are in great shape. I would like to stain and finish them though I am uncertain what finish to use. Any suggestions? I was going to use a poly finish though I am sure there must be something better.

I picked up some very old Swedish chisels as well and the handles on these are in very poor state as well though the blades are in excellent condition. I used Scary Sharp to clean them up and they work very well.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Regards,
Angelo

What in the world is Scary Sharp???

I believe that many of the older plane handles like paint brush handles were finished by dipping in shellac a number of times, often a red or other dark coloured dye was included in the shellac. Lacquer was subsiquently substituted for shellac in later years. This was also often laced with a dye.

Try poly or lacquer and finish off with EEE Ultra Shine cut 'n' polish. Should give a great feel and look to the handles.

Cheers
Neil

Hi Neil,

Thanks for your advice. I will try the poly and will try the paste wax.

Scary Sharp is the name given to the methodology of sharpening using automotive abrasive papers and a sheet of glass. Some guy in the US has a written an article about it. I thought that I would give it a go and it seemed to work very well with my plane blades and exceptionally well with some of my better chisels. You can check it out for yourself at http://www.shavings.net/SCARY.HTM#original

Regards,
Angelo



[This message has been edited by Angelo (edited 07 April 2000).]