Timbotide- I sanded the metal down to 600 grit, [beginning with 220] de-oiled all the metal then applied two coats of Perma blue and lightly knocked down with 0000 steel wool.
Regarding sanding and rasping
,the log was too fat for the mill so we blasted it with over one pound of FFF. it split beautifully down the center. Unfortunately, it was so full of blemishes, knots, cracks we only got a dozen blanks. all sold.