Should I stain then apply spar varnish or just buff and varnish? Not real fond of the blonde faded color.
(http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag110/rootuid0/IMG_7608_zps283023cc.jpg) (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/rootuid0/media/IMG_7608_zps283023cc.jpg.html)
Get new ones from Brian. Those never seem to look good no matter what you do.
I usually give them a light sand then hit them with some tung oil
Spar marine looks a bit crap on the old handles
Stain...... Well if you can find one that looks ok, go for it
Keep it simple, if you can't get new ones
A bit of tung oil and they'll always look better than plastic handles
I sand them. Apply minwax golden pecan stain. Then apply 3-4 coats of poly. whatever I have in the shop.
I refinished the handles on a couple 77 18.5s:
(http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w478/javahog2002/DSCN1089_zps1b65df06.jpg)
bite the bullet and get some from brian
you will be glad you did
I have multiple handles from Brian. Maybe Buckie will go into business selling bone handles to offset his expenses.
Quote from: etruax on April 17, 2013, 06:20:43 AM
I have multiple handles from Brian. Maybe Buckie will go into business selling bone handles to offset his expenses.
I can fix up a set of "bones", I suppose, for reasonable......
....but, as always, if you have dogs, the warranty is void ........ 8)
Javahog, yours are a differnt kind of wood. Yours look like teak. I have some like that and they turn out nice, but some of the cheaper woods never look that nice.
Nah they are old dried out crummy wood. I had some on my Blue, and they looked the same....I think Weber just started using whatever kind of wood they could get their hands on. I guarantee it's not Teak, that wood is pretty expensive and they seems to be pretty cheap....
I agree with Brian, towards the end of the wood handle era, they got cheaper, now if you have a vintage handle still in good shape, like a two rivet style or an early single screw (80s) then they'd be worth restoring. I have several of Brians handles (both versions) and they are top notch. They'll probably outlive the originals from a timetable standpoint.
So did the handles on my 77's have the Weber logo on them when they were new ??
Quote from: javahog2002 on April 18, 2013, 07:24:24 PM
So did the handles on my 77's have the Weber logo on them when they were new ??
It's possible, I know my Warrior (brown '78) had a very faded ghost image of the 'WEBER' log on it in between the rivets. So they could have been there for '77. I still have the handle in the garage, it's sawed in half from when I removed it to put Brian's reproduction one on. I would have kept it on there, but it was sooo dried out and loose. Yours look fantastic.
I completely understand if you want to restore these, but fwiw Brian's handles are incredible works of art. Perfectly sized, painstakingly finished, and the logos are spot on. They are like time machines for your grill-- perfect.
I try to make the handles for those who are doing restorations on the old grills and who want to replace the new crappy plastic handles...either way the wood ones perform better than the plastic ones. The plastic gets so hot you burn your hands..the wood can handle much more heat. Let's face it, the wood ones look "Oh So Choice"......
Quote from: zavod44 on April 19, 2013, 06:28:23 PM
I try to make the handles for those who are doing restorations on the old grills and who want to replace the new crappy plastic handles...either way the wood ones perform better than the plastic ones. The plastic gets so hot you burn your hands..the wood can handle much more heat. Let's face it, the wood ones look "Oh So Choice"......
Brian, have you considered (or is it a possible) to make the "Weber - The One The Only" handles?
Not as good as Java's work but still a big improvement. Went with the Minwax stain/poly mix in Pecan Satin.
FYI...I have some of Brian's handles and am a big fan.
(http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag110/rootuid0/IMG_8629_zps6048a07a.jpg) (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/rootuid0/media/IMG_8629_zps6048a07a.jpg.html)
Nice job. I also like how the original old teakwoods clean up.
That looks way better than my handles. The problem I have is they look great in the garage. Then after they get snowed on or rained on the finish starts to show spots. I know I need some covers. I probably don't let them dry long enough between coats and my water based poly is old. Most of mine are just temporary until I decide which kettles I will really keep. Then I am sending some $$$ to Brian for a few cool handles with a Weber logo. I will also order one from Marty with some cool engraving like:
The Other Woman
Obsession ???
Tracy's Pit
Anyway, your handle looks great.
Nice Eric. Looks swell. (And I know it is too late, but despite what the Aussie says, Spar varnish is what I have used with some success on that era of wood handles.)
Quote from: Duke on May 03, 2013, 06:19:04 AM
Nice job. I also like how the original old teakwoods clean up.
Hahha, those aren't teak man! Trust us!
I wonder if that's a special logo I can just barely make out on my Sequoia. Looks like it could be Imperial.
Quote from: Bob BQ on April 19, 2013, 10:10:50 PM
Quote from: zavod44 on April 19, 2013, 06:28:23 PM
I try to make the handles for those who are doing restorations on the old grills and who want to replace the new crappy plastic handles...either way the wood ones perform better than the plastic ones. The plastic gets so hot you burn your hands..the wood can handle much more heat. Let's face it, the wood ones look "Oh So Choice"......
Brian, have you considered (or is it a possible) to make the "Weber - The One The Only" handles?
I did then I forgot! I'll look into it again, thanks for reminding me....