Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 25, 2009 12:27am | #1

   One option lots of people like would be a wiping varnish, either bought at that consistency, like Waterlox, or your favorite oil based varnish thinned to wiping consistency.  That will give a film--ranging from satin to gloss depending on the varnish you choose.

   With chestnut, with open pore, I prefer a lower viscosity finish like the wiping varnish, than a brush on varnish due to the appearance it gives the pores. 

   Oil/varnish mixes give a more casual in-the-wood appearance, but aren't as protective and take more care to keep lookiing nice.  Still lots of people like the look and certainly like the very easy application, of applying, let soak in for a while, and then thoroughly rubbing off all excess. 

    If you should go with oil/varnish, note that with an open pored wood, make the first coat rather light, and also watched frequently for the first several hours to make sure there is no bleed back of finish out of the pores.  These need to be caught, and wiped off, before they dry leaving little shiny pox marks on the surface.

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 25, 2009 07:12am | #2

   Steve, when I hear "open-pored wood" my brain yells "wet-sand" as I had such a good experience when finishing a couple of red oak projects by wetsanding with Watco.  Given that the OP wants a clear finish, is wetsanding still an option?  Is it one you would consider??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)