Firebox handle finishes

[RedShirtGuy]

My folks have just had a spanky new wood heater installed. It has a couple of raw timber handles on it that need some finishing.

Is there a problem with using Danish oil near such heat? I wouldn't want the thing to spontaneously combust.

How about poly? Will it crack and craze with heat?

Ta.

[DaveTTC]

if the wooden handles dont burn I think an oil finish will be fine

[Scott]

if the wooden handles dont burn I think an oil finish will be fine

+1 . I used linseed and turps on my Coonara handle.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

+2.

For safeties' sake I'd let any applied finish dry (and gas off any accelerants, driers, etc.) for a few days before firing up the stove.

It's probably better for the long-term durability of the finish, too; there are reasons we don't just plonk our freshly finished items in a warm oven to dry... and why mfrs put "recommended working temperature ranges" on their product spec sheets.

[RedShirtGuy]

Thanks chaps. Danish oil with a few days rest it is then

...mfrs...

It took me a few secs to figure out this wasn't the abbreviation for what I thought it was