Handle Finish/Edge Work

[northland archer]

I am back to making sharp things again but have never used natural wood before.  What is the best finish for a natural wood handle?  
Second question:  When putting a first time edge on a knife made from a saw blade, what is the best way to keep the edge centered?  Thanks for any help you can give.

[skullworks]

I can't answer the edge question but I use either lacquer or tung oil for the finishes on my handles.

[tomh]

Birchwood Casey Tru Oil looks real nice on wood. For the edge you could try to draw a line down the center but eyeballing it is probably easier. Maybe some of the real knifemakers have a better answer, so now I will just sit back and shut up  

[farmboy]

I'm not a "real knifemaker" but I eyeballed mine and it came out centered enough that I cant see any offset.......I used polimerized tung oil to finish although the handle as seen in my post isnt rubbed out yet.  They said to let it dry 8-24 hrs then rub it out with fine steel wool. It has a velvety sheen now that I have it finished.

Scott

[Lytic]

I've always liked Tru Oil for most of my wood handles. Although woods like cocobolo have so much oil already I sometimes only finish with very find sanding/polishing. Use superglue to fill any pin holes or cracks. I know some guys like to soak their wood with epoxy. As far as the edge I use my eye. Bought a lansky sharpener when I was young and used to use it to check my process, don't use it anymore. Easy enough to just eye it out.

[JEFF B]

tru oil all the way.