Finishing cocobolo.......HELP!!!

I’ve had pretty good luck with wipe-on poly on cocobolo. On some cocobolo items I have gone straight to the buffer without any finish. That natural oiliness is all it needs.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

So you think a good coat of paste wax will be sufficient? For a gavel?....I really dont expect this gavel to end up being used in a court room. It will probably end up on a display shelf.

-- RKWoods

One thing you can do is seal it with two coats of dewaxed shellac and then use the poly. Just the wax will work but it will need to be reapplied over time.

-- Childress Woodworks

I agree with shellac. It’s the jack of all trades. It’ll stick to anything and anything will stick to it.

-- Bruce from Central New York...now, if you'll pardon me, I have some sawdust to make.

Here’s a great article, if interested:

LINK

-- -- Neil

thanks guys, im going to try the shellac.

-- RKWoods

I have used Cocobolo on knife handles .
There is a product called Fixit sold at hobby shops it is in a spray can spray it on let dry for about 10 min. and buff off with a loose buffing wheel nice finish ///

-- lcurrent ( It's not a mistake till you run out of wood )

RKW,

Try ca glue applied as it turns on the lathe. Works fine.

Steve

-- Steve in KY. 44 years so far with my lovely bride. Think I'll keep her.

Cocobolo has natural oils. It has been used without any finish for centuries. I’d get it to a glass finish, and then wax if I felt I had to do something. Otherwise I’d leave it. The natural oils will keep it looking great, if the person keeps it clean.

-- We call the destruction of replaceable human made items vandalism, while the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources is called development.