[CAS14]

I have attached a link to a rock hammer & stick in my gallery. I think I can make an easy version of this using a 40" hickory sledge hammer replacement handle. These are most commonly finished with lacquer, I believe.

http://walkingstickforum.com/gallery/image/268-copper-bands-installed/

Do you think the grain is likely so well sealed that I can't sand such a replacement handle down, and get a dark stain to penetrate? If I can make this look decent, I think I could donate some to a geology student's group for their silent auctions they hold when alumni meet. They use the funds for geological field trips and to support a local charity.

I suppose that I can just try it. I began sanding on one last fall, and it should be warm enough to continue in a month.

What do you think about sanding and then staining and refinishing a previously lacquered handle? Am I wasting my time?

 

[CAS14]

Thanks gents, it's not oiled it is a hard finish, probably lacquer. I did some sanding last fall, but as soon as the weather warms I need to finish the first one.

I'll add a brass or copper pipe fitting for a ferrule, along with some sort of replaceable tip. After staining and maybe initial finishing, then I'll measure up at one foot intervals, and rasp a groove and wind matching brass or copper wire, epoxying it into place, so that a geologist could measure rock outcrops. One one, I also added brass wood screws at 0.1 foot intervals over one foot, for more precise measurements.

This will be fun. I hope to have pics sometime in the spring.

 

[CAS14]

do you anneal the metal when working it. copper is a pretty easy material to work with and you can get a good finish when dropped into a acid bath after heating and manipulating,.Brass not so easy ,.

I just use heavy gauge pipe fittings that plumbers or electricians use. I steal some of my wife's silver polishing material and apply elbow grease on the copper. On the brass, if it is scratched I will use 0000 steel wool, maybe some polishing compound, and then Brasso - the stuff you had to polish your military brass with.