Got a wonderful Lime MBH from Lightningboltz...hopefully I don't mess this up. I asked for advice on refinishing this handle and had bought some Teak Oil Finish. I was told cleaning the handle with Zippo fluid would let me know what the handle finished in Teak Oil would look like. I did this and found it not dark enough. So I changed plans. Zavod likes the Satin Spar so that is what I am going to go with....on top of stain.
Handle the way I got it:
Lime handle after being whiped a cloth with some Zippo lighter fluid , (substitute for naphtha cleaner which I cannot get in Canada) and handles from a 1999 black 3 wheeler:
After a cleaning with more Zippo on all handles:
After sanding - first with 120 then 150 and finally 180. I was carefull to keep the paper flat on the top sides of the newer handles so as to not sand down the markings:
After sanding I wipped down the handles again with Zippo fluid. I used Minwax Wood Finish Red Mahogany on the newer handles and Varathane Wood Stain American Walnut on Peach. In the few minutes after application but before I wiped off the excess I added a little Red Mahogany on top of the American Walnut...just a little. Then I wiped off the excess. Here is the handles outside about 5 hours after application:
I am gonna try and keep the original triangle. Not sure if I can get all the rust off of it but I am trying. This is after about 15 minutes with fine steel wool and soap/water:
Gonna do the legs and clean up the wheels and anything else I can think of while I am at it. I will update as I go. The handles with get 3 coats of Satin Spar with a 220 grit light sanding in between the coats.