That the final form of the poker, sanded with 120, 240, 400, 600 and 1000 grit sandpaper and buffed with a buffing cloth for shoes and 1-2 drops of olive oil.
I spent a week calling up leather shops and other craft shops for alcohol-based leather dyes and/or carnauba wax (only in auto shops - don't want to use that!), consulted with my wife who's a painter by training about the possibility of making an alcohol-based paint, and in the end got frustrated, gave up and decided to use a couple of drops of oil as I didn't have the patience to order from abroad. I like the result, in fact wouldn't want it to be any darker (it is darker, mahogany reddish in real life, the photo is not good as taken from my crappy phone).
Interestingly, I found a thread here today about old vs newer briar. The guy who I got this hobby block from advertises that they are 30 years old briar, there's a big difference in the colour between this and the my first attempt (
Vauen hobby block) - this is MUCH darker.
I appreciate that both this, as well as my first attempt are rough as sin, and in fact the moment I put the oil on a dozen scratches and dings showed up that were not obvious to the eye or touch, but nevermind, I lack the patience of proper craftsmen, however for the remaining block I have I'll put in a lot more effort in finishing, and get a couple of appropriate wood files.
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