Replies

1. 
   EdHarrison | Jul 18, 2007 01:57am | #1

   You're running out of time, FG, so I'll give you the easiest, most bulletproof finish that I know of, one so easy that even I can do it without messing it up - 2 coats Zinsser Seal Coat, then 2 coats Minwax Wipe-On Poly, six hrs. between, then rub out and wax after 6 hours-12 hours on the second coat of Minwax poly. Good luck, sorry about your loss, Ed

2. 
   Ronaway | Jul 18, 2007 01:57am | #2

   Given the time period you have to work with, I think you either have to do shellac or lacquer, or shellac with lacquer top coat, given the application either should work fine. If it were me I would use just the shellac, and I would probably french polish the parts.

   Ron Brese

   If you're too open minded your brains will fall out.
3. 
   highfigh | Jul 18, 2007 02:24am | #3

   Shellac will pop the grain AND dry fast. I wadded a piece of cheese cloth and wrapped it in a piece of new T shirt, then tied the top so it wouldn't open (I used a wire tie).

   If you have a little time to practice, use a flat piece of whatever is smooth and wipe some shellac on, don't spend a lot of time in one place and when it's fully covered, go and have a glass of water (or something).

   Put the shellac in a plastic cup, dunk the pad into the shellac and soak it well, squeezing the excess out.

   Wipe a coat on the wood. When it's dry, wipe on another coat with a fairly damp pad, and let that dry. Add another coat and the grain should be filled in, although the surface won't necessarily be totally smooth- that comes next. You can add another coat, if you want.

   Fill another plastic cup with denatured alcohol and dunk the pad into that, or make another pad. Squeeze the excess out but leave it damp. Now, wipe along the surface of the piece and watch it smooth out. One swipe and move to new adjacent surface. Keep doing this until the whole piece has been wiped down. Let it dry. It should be very smooth. If it's not, repeat. If you go down to bare wood, wipe a few more coats on, letting each dry for a half hour or so (if it's not humid- if it is, it'll take longer). Once the finish has dried completely, you can also wet sand it, to smooth the high spots. Don't sand for too long- if you think "one more stroke", stop. I used 600 grit first, then 2000. 0000 steel wool will work, too. If the surface is flat, use a small piece of wood as a sanding block. I have 2000 grit wet/dry paper, so that's what I used. Wipe the surfaces down with water and towel dry.

   If you want a really glossy finish, smooth it with 600 grit and wipe the surface with denatured. One swipe on each area, moving to the next, across the whole width. Don't pause, just wipe across the whole surface and move to the next place. Let it dry completely- this should take very little time. The first time, it tended to be very smooth. If I wiped it again, it tended to leave very slight lines. Classic French Polishing uses mineral oil as a lubricant, wiping after with mineral spirits to remove that. It also uses a figure-eight pattern, which I also didn't use. I wiped across the grain to fill it in.

   When I was done with the 2000 grit paper, I wiped it with water and looked for any scratches or swirls. Once I was satisfied, I gave it a few coats of paste wax. The people I did this for both said WOW! a lot. They have a lot of really nice antiques and artwork and they have enough that they rotate them throughout the year. If I hear WOW! from people like them, I'm happy.

   I found some instructions at http://www.zinnser.com but can't seem to find the same ones today. Look under Bulls Eye French Polish. I used the Seal Coat, because it's de-waxed.

   I'm no expert but the people here helped me a lot, so I'm passing it along.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 18, 2007 03:19am | #5

   Padding shellac is my favorite way to finish, almost fool-proof, LOL!  Wasn't sure if it would pop the grain (first time with really figured maple).  I'll test a piece of the bird's-eye with it.  Hardly have any "extra" quilted maple, it's a small panel from a place that mills woods for instrument making, but will see what I can do.  Thanks!!!!!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

   Edited 7/17/2007 8:19 pm by forestgirl

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 18, 2007 03:54am | #8

   forestgirl,

   Go with your most familiar finishing technique.  You don't have time to experiment with new.  IMHO shellac will pop the grain of all the woods in your box and will offer the best effect to the woods.

   Remember, don't try to go back over it!  Get it with the next coat.

   Just use a little mineral spirits to level the final with #0000 steel wool with a light touch and you'll be good to go.

   We're all with you.

   Regards,  Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

4. 
   ctsjr | Jul 18, 2007 02:45am | #4

   Fg

   I have not tried this yet, but it sounds pretty straight forward, especially given your experience. Sorry for your loss. Tom

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDF/011186052.pdf

   "Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 18, 2007 03:21am | #6

   Thanks, Tom, for reminding me about that article.  I remember reading it awhile back, and it looks like it might just do the trick.  I have to admit to being nervous about putting the BLO on the figured maple, as my last maple experience was quite the disaster.  Will take a deep breath and make one practice run.  You're a pal!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   ctsjr | Jul 18, 2007 03:32am | #7

   FgYour are quite welcome. This is really a labor of love. I have been very reluctant to try new finishing techniques and materials because I'm not very good at finishing, and don't have a lot of experience. Plus, there's a great deal of confusion out there. Boiled linseed oil is not really BLO, but something else. Formby's Tung oil is not really tung oil, etc. I've just finished my end table I made at school in April, and I used shellac for the first time, and really enjoyed it--I'll use that again.
   Good luck with it, and hope the committal goes well. I'll keep you all in my prayers. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

5. 
   USANigel | Jul 18, 2007 10:50am | #9

   High build minwax poly.

6. 
   bobpowers | Jul 18, 2007 06:52pm | #10

   Try a coat of appropriate shellac and several coats of waterborne poly. I just finished a cherry table this way. The shellac and 3 coats of poly went on in one day.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 18, 2007 07:55pm | #11

   Thanks Bob.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

7. 
   Pondfish | Jul 19, 2007 02:23pm | #12

   Oil it lightly, then start shellacing 15 minutes later.  You can get a lot of coats of shellac on in 2 days, and it will look great and pop the figure.  Garnet shellac will also help enhance the figure.

   This may be too late, but try this next time...

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 19, 2007 06:36pm | #13

   That's basically what I'm doing, per the Jeff Jewitt article linked above.  An important step needs to be added when working with figured wood like this maple, though -- a washcoat of shellac first.  I had a piece to do a quick run on for testing, and the washcoat made a big difference, cutting down blotching.

   Thanks, PF!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

8. 
   mudman | Jul 19, 2007 11:54pm | #14

   I'd french polish.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 20, 2007 09:32am | #15

   Thanks to everyone for the ideas and support.  I did the Jeff Jewitt "fast finish" per article posted above, adding a wash-coat before the very light BLO treatment.  Last shellac coat went on about 4pm today, so I'll buff out tomorrow, and wax it.  It's not a fancy box, but I'll post pics in the gallery when I get back!

   Allen "Pop" Speed thanks you too.....

   View Image forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)