I never used Cocobolo before, but decided to use it for some small pieces in a project. I used a Minwax wiping Polyurethane on it, including on some exposed end grain.
Well, it has been about 10 days and the finish has not dried completely, it still seems a bit tacky on the end grain. The finish on the long grain seems to be dry, but I can leave a finger print on the end grain.
Are there any rules I need to know about when finishing Cocobolo or is this just a freak thing (as in I screwed something up)???
Thanks….
Denny
Replies
It is a function of colo bolo being an "oily" hardwood. Because of that oil based finishes tend not to to cure very well, and water borne finishes may not adhere satisfactorily. I would use mineral spirits to remove as much un-cured varnish as you can. If that removes the sticky surface then you can coat with a couple of coats of shellac (dewaxed since the top coat is polyurethane) scuff sand and then apply your wiping varnish.
If the mineral spirits doesn't do the job, then stripper would be in order, a much bigger job, but the solution if using a film finish is still to begin with the shellac.
Cocobolo. I have used on occasion. No finish needed. Wax and a buffing wheel! Or a buffing wheel and NO wax. I did one really nice finish on a Bow grip with Cocobolo. Used honing compound and the old buffing wheel!
But then again, I am NOT, what most would consider, a 'finisher' by any standards.
I use cb often for accents, like pegs & trim, and have never had this problem. I picked up a small piece recently from the local Rockler store and it had been dipped in wax. That obvioulsy had to be carefully removed prior to finishing. Could this be what happened to you? If not, I'd suspect the finish.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks for the thought Mike. I bought the CB from Wood Craft as a turning blank and in fact did have wax on the end grain. I did remove all of the wax before I finished it. It was actually all off through the milling process.I will try removing what is on it now (thankfully small parts) and use some dewaxed shellac and try again, which was my original thought as the wood just felt oily.Thanks all...
Oil/varnish on cocobolo is a nono. As you found out, it will not dry. Shellac or laquer will work; I haven't tried any water finishes.Or, as has been mentioned, you can sand and buff to a high polish finish with nothing on it.
I agree with Will George. Another thing you can do is save any planing curls or coarse saw dust from working the Cocobolo then grab wads of the stuff and use it to burnish the surface. My concrete floor is very smooth so I don't have problems with grit getting into the shavings or you can save them before they hit the floor. Same thing is recommended for lignin vitae.
Smells great by the way. The cocobolo that I work smells just like roses. I just use it to make small tools and knobs etc.
roc
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
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