stain and clear protective coat ok for wood chux? (please help!!!)

[Heru Pyrkagia]

ok so i am having sticks cut and drilled for nunchaku at the moment and i would like to know something before i get em, would staining em and putting a clear protective coat be a good thing or a bad thing. im talking functionally. i know that doing this would make em look cool. hopefully it is a good thing as i already bought the stain and clear. please help!! oh and if its not a good thing please enlighten me on the proper way of protecting the wood from splintering and stuff (the wood is oak)

[psionics]

your chux will get heavy if you varnish or put a protective cover.. if you wanna kill the wood's weight, you may soak it in water for a day then let it dry, then put a protective cover. Its just a theory lol but it might work. I prefer you find a light wood and a leather cover.. as for my experience, the chux has a better feel and weight using that. 

[Kevinjm]

depending on how much you handle them, un protected wood will absorb the oils and anything else you have on your hands.  There are many water soluble wood protectants  you can use, I would check out your local hard ware store.  Most cover in one coat which shouldn't add any noticeable weight.

[Heru Pyrkagia]

ok so i figured i would say exactly what im dealing with. the stain is an oil based and the clear gloss is oil based (thats what it says) polyurethane. the words clear gloss make me think i'll achieve the glossy look wood chux have when you store buy em. so what im gathering is that they will not lose any functionality if i do this. at worst they will get a little heavier but i couldnt imagine them getting too heavy. thanks for the help guys!

[moomin-mama]

like nike say - just do it!

im going to borrow some ronseal for my oaks once ive sanded them down... not that i ever use them anymore - i broke one pair at the holes so i had to tape the top part.

AND POST PICTURES!!!

[Heru Pyrkagia]

so yeah the staining and polyurethane coat process worked out just fine. my advice would to be not to sand the chux down too smooth so there is still some grip after the coats go on. mine are just fine and i have no grip issues at all. i do recommend some type of protective gloss as drops will have less effect on the wood. i put three coats of polyurethane and the weight of the chux are just fine. 

[Yetibutt]

My "summer time" nunchaku have no finish at all.  They soak up the sweat, and never get slippery.  They are butt ugly though.

I just got a pair from Woodalls that have a coat of linseed oil.  They are a good in between.  Very nice finish, but not glossy and slippery.

[Heru Pyrkagia]

AND POST PICTURES!!!

me or you cause i have pics of how mines turned out... they are on the forum photobucket

[moomin-mama]

(i meant yours - but i will check them out on photobucket link thingamajig)