With or Against?

[frontier gander]

Just a simple question.

When you apply an oil finish * antique formula original oil finish, in my case*  Do you rub with the Grain or Against?

First time using this stuff and i am lovin it.

[Brian Jordan]

When I do my knife scales I rub in alll directions, circular motion I guess. You want the best coverage you can get to fill all the grain. Just tossin' my change in, I'm sure you will get some more advice.

[Dphariss]

I just rub it on.

Dan

[Brian Jordan]

I just rub it on.

Dan

My thoughts exactly...simply put.

[G. Elsenbeck]

My thoughts exactly.  If I'm working on open grained wood, say walnut, a different technique I use is to let the oil absorb as much as possible, perhaps 30 minutes or so and before I wipe/rub it dry I'll take 600 grit wet/dry paper and rub with the grain.  The slurry that's left helps filling in the pores and then I'll take a dry soft cloth and wipe her dry.  After the first coat I now have a stock that's as soft as a baby's bottom.  Successive applications will help fill any voids missed from the first application. 

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I apply finish in the same direction as the grain, never across.  But whether it is into or against the grain, or with it,  I don't care.

[Dphariss]

I apply finish in the same direction as the grain, never across.  But whether it is into or against the grain, or with it,  I don't care.

See, now you make people think. In most cases its rubbed end to end.
But I really do little rubbing aside from taking the semi-dried oil back to the wood's surface (walnut) or wiping it off carved stocks.
Final polish is a thin coat "rubbed" on thin and often rottenstone and oil is used to shine things prior to this but not on Maple.
I do rottenstone, dry, with a fine sisal or similar fiber brush on unstained maple to smooth/polish carving. The brush itself is somewhat abrasive and the rottenstone helps with the polish. Use a dust mask.

Dan

[Brian Jordan]

What is rottenstone? never heard of it.

[G. Elsenbeck]

Rottenstone is a very fine powdered abrasive used for a couple of centuries in rubbing out finishes.  Typically used with some sort of lubricant and rubbed using a felt pad.  It produces a nice finish.
Gary

[t.caster]

RS is a very fine powdery pumice stone abrasive.
When done with my Chambers finish (4 to 6 coats) I soak a rag in Linseed oil and dip it in RS and rub into the stock, then wipe off excess. It cuts the shine and  leaves a soft smooth sheen that I like!

[RichardW]

Both – with and across. 
I was taught that rubbing with the grain has a tendency to pull finish out of the pores and will take longer to fill and create a smooth finish.  Over time, I have found that for field guns I like texture on the stock; for finer guns, preference runs toward smoother satin finishes. The technique, more that the product, can give the desired finish.

[Brian Jordan]

Rottenstone is a very fine powdered abrasive used for a couple of centuries in rubbing out finishes.  Typically used with some sort of lubricant and rubbed using a felt pad.  It produces a nice finish.
Gary

That sounds very interesting, so it is sort of like a diamond compound of the 1700's

[frontier gander]

thanks guys, i was just redoing my kentucky and while i was rubbing in the oil i started thinking. One bad thing about using an oil finsh, gives you to much time to think