Equisetum (scouring rush) for de-whiskering and burnishing

[rich pierce]

Equisetum, horsetail, or scouring rush is my favorite abrasive to de-whisker following staining with water-based stains. I gather a half dozen stalks now and then and let them dry. Flatten, cut to short lengths, and get to it. The stems contain silica but do not shed, and are about 1200 grit as far as I can guess. I’m finishing up a cherry stock now and find it handy. When cleanly cut one can scootch up close to relief carving pretty easily. It may not offer big advantages over Scotchbrite pads but it’s much better than fine steel wool in my experience in that it does not shed or embed in the wood. Plus it’s entertaining and I like having fun.

[577SXS]

That's very interesting. I'll have to see if I can find some to try. I hate whiskering a stock too!
That looks like a little rough spot in the Cherry!

[rich pierce]

Cherry seems very porous and the grain raises a lot in cross-grain areas. Flat grain areas don’t raise as much grain and take on less stain. Different ballgame than maple for sure.

[smallpatch]

Cmon Rich,
Now you’re just showin off!

[rich pierce]

Cmon Rich,
Now you’re just showin off!

Gilding the lily, for sure.

[Herb]

When I was at Lower Souris Refuge in North Dakota in the mid '60s doing range surveys, I noticed a lot of Equisetum in road ditches in the sandhills, but a 3-wire fence kept it out of the grazed grassland........

[smart dog]

Hi Rich,
I believe using horsetails for sanding is described in Wolf's book on jaeger rifles.  The big full color one sold through Jim Chambers some years ago.

dave

[Robert Wolfe]

Equisetum is also called "scouring rush" and has been used at various times and places for scouring pots and pan, by the Roman's for instance.