2 quick questions before I make a big mistake

[AKCrazyhorse]

Hey guys,

a knife maker I'm not, but when my beloved Helle Harding got a crack in the handle I decided to make my own replacement.  I found a pretty piece of zebra wood and I'm approaching the final stages.  I've got the blad fixed in the handle and the handle is shaped and sanded and ready for finishing.  Questions are

1) Should I apply a wood hardener first?  Zebra is fairly hard (I think) already but it seems like the wood hardener might have some benefits.  Will it effect and oil finish I decide to use?

2) what to finally seal the knife with?  I've heard some folks using Cyanoacrylate (super glue).  What's the latest greatest (or just plain greatest)?

Thanks

[robtattoo]

For Zebrano, the best finish I've ever used is simply Tung oil. Wipe on a good coat & let it sit for a few hours, wiping off the excess after an hour. It buffs up to a nice satin sheen, it's waterproof, non-slip & non sticky & can be reapplied as often as you want.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I like a Danish Oil finish. If you want it low luster use the Tung oil method described above.   If you want a shiny finish, do 4 coats and buff with 0000 steel wool between coats.   If you want to you can spread a coat of thin superglue over the surface and sand it down to a smooth surface with 600 grit paper.  Do two more coats the same way.  Once done properly you can leave the CA finish. I prefer to give a CA finish three good coats of hard carnuba wax over the finish with a good hard buffing to get a gloss finish.