Hey all,
I’m a woodworker who always worked in shops that had a separate finishing dept. I’m trying to break out on my own and be self sufficient. I’ve built a Walnut and Yew cabinet for a gallery and need a strong and clear finish. What finishes do people reccomend? I’ve heard good things about waterlox, but there will be many vertical surfaces to deal with.
Thanks in advance
Dave
Replies
I like oils and oil/varnish blends. Shellac is nice and sprayable. I do not like waterborne finishes on their own because they make wood look washed out. If I use a waterborne finish for durability, I will start with a coat of shellac for warmth. Personally, I'm not a fan of thick film finishes.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Waterlox is a wiping varnish. It, or other wiping varnishes won't have particular problems with vertical surfaces. Coats are wiped on thinly, they shouldn't have enough material to create runs and sags. Waterlox is a tung/phenolic varnish, which is very tough, but also relatively dark. You could make your own wiping varnish from a soya/alkyd varnish that would be a little lighter in color.
You can apply wiping varnish in "sets" of about three coats applied in a day, spaced just long enough between for them to dry to the touch, not enough to sand. Then let each set, which is about equivalent in thickness to one coat of brushed on varnish, cure overnight, scuff sand and apply another set.
The thin wiping varnish sets out of dust fast enough that it doesn't collect lots of dust (though all possible care to avoid it is still called for), but you can still rub out the final finish (after it has well cured) since each "set" is applied close enough together so that witness lines would be avoided within the final set. A light touch is still called for.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled