Finish for Olive Wood S & P Grinders

[Ed Weingarden]

I've used olive wood in the past for pens, and never had any problems using CA for the finish. I now have a set of S & P grinders ready for finishing and I'm not sure what the best type of finish would be. I know that many of the imported exotic woods can be oily; I did a set of S & P grinders with one of the imported exotics (can't remember which one) and the polyurethane finish would not cure. I wiped it down with mineral spirits, sanded again, put a coat of shellac sanding sealer on it, and went ahead with the polyurethane again. This time the poly cured, but it took about a week. With all that said, I'm wondering if Olive Wood is one of those very oily woods. For any of you who have worked with it, what type of finish do you use, and what's your method of application? TIA.

 

[wade45]

I have done a good about of Bethlehem Olive wood pens. I haven't had any problems with ca finishes. However this wood was cut and sitting for well over 40 years before I got my hands on it.

 

[leehljp]

CA for me; but others work also.

 

[Ted iin Michigan]

I'm thinking your "revised" finishing schedule is on target. Pretty much the same thing I do when I work with oily exotics but I sand first and then do a nice wipe down with acetone rather than mineral spirits. Either poly or CA is fine. I choose poly for grinders.
If you do choose to try this, be sure to ventilate and wear gloves. Acetone has some naughty side effects.

 

[Ed Weingarden]

Thanks for all the feedback. Anyone use Danish Oil on Olive Wood? I have some of that but would like to get some additional feedback before I decide what to go with.