Cocoboolo...redux!

[flyboy]

Hey, all;
Sorry to keeep hammering on this, but I just made another set of grips for my gun, using Cocobolo. I have a commercial set of Herret's on my revolver... very glossy, and the wood hasn't darkened for more than a year.

I asked them what they use, and was told Formby's high gloss tung oil. I bought some of the Formby's, which does a wicked job on Walnut, by the way, wiped the grips with denatured alcohol, filled the grain with some walnut filler I had on hand, and started finishing; one fingertip with oil on it at at a time. I have got it to a sort of satin but not really shiny, and they do not dry. I can leave it for a couple of days, and "apply artificial light" like the instructions say, but it is still gooey till I wipe them off.

Is there a finish that will go over the coats of Tung Oil I have now, or must I sand it all off, and redo?

And, by the way, I'm making a knife for my son in law for Christmas, with the handle of Koa wood from Hawaii. Is Koa wood oily, or will it finish with conventional methods?

Thanks

[Forester21]

Did you wipe the Formby's off after waiting 10 to 15 minutes? I find that if I don't wipe it down it will get sticky.

But there is a solution!! Get the Formbys out again, put some on your rag and wipe down the wood with it. For some reason the fresh oil cuts the stickyness of the older oil. Be sure to wipe it down good afterwards and let it dry. After it is dry (add warm air if need be -either direct sun or sometimes I put things in a small room with a heater) add another coat of the Formbys.

How humid is it where you are at?

[flyboy]

Forester;

Thank you, and no, I didn't wipe it down after 15 minutes.
My basement humidity is about 60%, based on the hygrometer in my shop clock. I even put the grips in an outside shed for a couple of days, when the temp was in the 80's, and also tried puting them close to my shop light overnight, but the warmer temperature didn't seem to help much.

I will try the wiping suggestion.

I did what you suggested, and it looks like it is going to work just fine! Thank you!

[flyboy]

Forester, Hi, again!

I tried wiping the Formby's, but although it was better, it would get after sitting on the Cocobolo a while. I finally sanded the finish off, and tried a coat of Zinsser's Bull's Eye Sealcoat Shellac. It looks like it is going to really work!, and some suggestions were that I can finish over it it with anything I'd like, so that is a real plus.

thanks for the suggestions.