What to stain Mesquite wood with??

[MAP]

I know some of ya'll make things out of sanded mesquite wood. I've got a piece that I've sanded down and was wondering what type of oil you use.

[bboswell]

Clear Satin Varnish. I wouldn't put any color on it

[mrgroundblind]

Clear Satin Varnish. I wouldn't put any color on it

x2...it will bring out the best characteristics of the wood. I am all for this method on mesquite and black walnut.

[buck_wild]

Whatcha gonna do with it?

[TXJon]

Boiled linseed oil or tung oil are nice. Watco Danish oil (natural, untinted) is very easy to use and looks good.

X3 for not adding color.

[keep]

x4 for no color

[SaltwaterSlick]

Boiled linseed oil or tung oil are nice. Watco Danish oil (natural, untinted) is very easy to use and looks good.

X3 for not adding color.

x4 for what he said. My thoughts exactly, especially if it is heart wood and old.

[doublearrow]

I use tung oil on all my knife handles. A rocking chair maker I talked to used boiled linseed oil or tung oil.

[Texastaxi]

I'm sure you meant seal, not stain, right?

My first choice is Deft Brusing Laquer (satin).
My second choice is the Watco Danish Oil.

[theluckyhunter]

I use tung oil on all my knife handles. A rocking chair maker I talked to used boiled linseed oil or tung oil.

yea, but your an amature jk buddy.


i like danish oil, the more coats you put on the glossier it gets. never tried tung or linseed oil. birchwood casey works great too

[MAP]

I'm planning on using it to hang on the wall and hang a skull on it. I want it to have the same finish as TexCattlemans euro bases, or what people use on their mesquite fire place mantles. I've got a few scrape peices laying around so I'll take every ones recommondations and see what I come up with.

Thanks for all the help so far.........

[Big Brass]

I do a little work with mesquite and here is my favorite method.

1. Sand the piece to 220 grit.
2. Take a rectangular eraser and cut some 400-600 grit wet/dry sand paper into squares just big enough to cover the eraser.
3. Put a little bit of tung oil in a bottle cap and dip the sand paper into the tung oil.
4. Using the eraser as a backing, wet sand the mesquite with the tung oil soaked sand paper. Work in small circles (half dollar size) and build up a slurry of tung oil and sawdust. Change out the sandpaper squares frequently when you feel they are no longer cutting.
5. Overlap the circular areas and wipe the built up slurry ACROSS the grain with a clean lint free cloth.
6. After wet sanding the whole piece, let it dry for 24 hours.
7. Repeat the process every day until you have built up 7-10 coats. The wood will have a hard, durable, glasslike finish that shows the natural color and grain.

It sounds like a lot of work but it takes me less than 20 minutes per day on an entire rifle stock. Less time for smaller projects. I am currently in the planning phase for a project. I found a rough cut 1"x8"x4' long piece of mesquite lumber that is burl/flame. I want to make some bases from it. I'll post some pics tomorrow. It is the most beautiful piece of wood I have ever found.

P.S. I also agree with never staining mesquite. All forms of mesquite (honey, red, etc) have beautiful natural color. The wood is also so naturally hard and dense that it will probably not take stain well.

[maglite]

Check out READYSEAL.COM ready seal is an all around awesome wood sealer! I used to be a supervisor in their manufacturing shop but its GREAT STUFF!!!!! The best wood sealer in the world I think!!

[jmm83164]

peanut oil

soaks in way deep doesnt change the color and leaves a nice shine.
We dont have mesquite here but it works great on black locust and osage orange
Mike