rd400guy Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Hello all. I'm very new to woodworking. I have a small lathe, and have turned a dozen or so projects before taking on my most "prestigious" to date: a walnut gavel. I'm also extremely new to wood finishing - most of my earlier woodworking projects either have no finish, a simple coat of oil, or spray polyurethane. My latest foray into finishing was to put stain and 3 coats of oil based poly on some stairs and a doorway we had installed over the summer - this turned out great. Back to the gavel - what finish should I apply to a gavel, that's going to be used regularly? The sounding block we have is a piece of stone (granite or marble, I guess). I don't want a very "hard" finish that might crack or chip off. But I do want a finish that will stand up to the use - specifically if a sweaty hand is holding it. And don't want a finish "soft" enough that it will pick up fingerprints, glove prints, etc. Lastly, I'd also like it to have a pretty high gloss, that will really show off the piece of walnut I turned it from. Both the head and handle were sanded to 600 grit. I'm not as worried about the gavel getting small indentations as a result of being used - it adds character. The gavel I'm replacing literally has chunks missing out of the face from decades of use. If this one turns out good, there may be future orders from throughout our district. Thanks in advance for all your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Welcome to the forums! I would think a simple Arm-R-Seal finish would do the trick for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 17, 2014 Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 I would just use oil. Any film-forming finish will be damaged as a result of its use. Keep rubbing it with a high-grit pad or steel wool while the oil is wet, and you'll get a deep luster out of it. Reapply oil as needed for the rest of its life. Easy-peasy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd400guy Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 I would just use oil. Any film-forming finish will be damaged as a result of its use. Keep rubbing it with a high-grit pad or steel wool while the oil is wet, and you'll get a deep luster out of it. Reapply oil as needed for the rest of its life. Easy-peasy. I was sort of leaning toward oil, or an oil varnish blend. My understanding is that the oil varnish blends apply just like oils, with a little more protection. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Tarbell Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 I'd also expect the gavel to be hit off of the edges of the sounding pad fairly often. At least the judges on TV seem to just blindly swing at it while looking at all the people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd400guy Posted December 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Well... it's not a Judge that's going to be using it! (or an auctioneer for that fact) I've decided I'm going to try the Watco Danish Oil in "natural" tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Tarbell Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Now i'm curious.. who uses a gavel aside from a judge or auctioneer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Now i'm curious.. who uses a gavel aside from a judge or auctioneer? I used to use one to keep my kids in line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Me too. It's especially effective if you use their heads as the sound block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Me too. It's especially effective if you use their heads as the sound block. Yup the hair covers the bruises. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Me too. It's especially effective if you use their heads as the sound block. Yup the hair covers the bruises. Yup, and they can't remember how to dial 911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 I don't always restore gavels, but when I do, I use a hammered finish. Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jHop Posted December 19, 2014 Report Share Posted December 19, 2014 Some school boards and communities use gavels to call meetings to order and wrap them up. I second the oil finish. I'd pick something that is readily available, rather than something that is in a "specialty shop," so the group/individual getting the gavel can apply finish annually on their own. (Meaning that they will be able to go to any store and find it, or to whatever store they happen to think of.) Better still, if you can convince them to bring it back to you annually for a "maintenance period" where you check the finish and reapply as necessary, and can eventually offer a replacement when it gets to that. as for the sounding block, this is the first time I've heard of granite as a block. Usually, I've seen people use a turned block of wood similar to the gavel. Gives that distinctive rap sound... For decorative purposes, you might consider adding a brass ring around the end of the gavel. Adds character, flair, and the wood will mushroom around it rather than split the gavel. (At least, that's the thought.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd400guy Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Well, the head of the gavel isn't round, so the brass ring is out... It's a common gavel - search that and it should answer all the questions as to where it's going to be used. That might also clue folks in to why we use a stone sounding block versus a wooden one. I picked up Watco Danish Oil at the orange depot last weekend. Seeing as how I waited until December to get to this, it might be a while before I get to actually apply the finish... probably should've waited to buy it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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