Replies

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | Oct 26, 2009 11:25pm | #1

   I did a Koa natural-edge coffee table from a stunning piece that I found at a woodworking show a number of years ago.

   After surface prep (scraped to almost a sheen), I used dewaxed super blonde shellac.

   It popped the grain, and I was able to rub it out to the sheen I wanted.

   And the good news for me at the time, was that if I screwed up, I could salvage the wood by using alcohol to remove the shellac if needed.

   Lacquer can do the same finish -- rubbed out as you see fit -- but un-doing the stuff is almost impossible.

   I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
   And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
   I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
   So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)

2. 
   Rich14 | Oct 27, 2009 12:09am | #2

   Bruce,

   Koa can vary, but it is not anywhere near as oily a wood as many other tropical hardwoods. With many oily woods, that leaves lacquer or shellac as just about the only choice.

   I use lacquer or shellac for most tropical hardwoods because they are my favorite finishes and while I don't use oil as a finish (I only use it to develop color under the final finish), many people do. Oil finishes such as boiled linseed or an oil varnish mix can work with Koa. Of course, Koa looks beautiful with shellac or lacquer.

   Rich

3. 
   stantheman | Oct 27, 2009 12:52am | #3

   Bruce - I am not an expert but not seeing much response so far. I love koa and have been very careful with the small pieces I have worked with.  I think koa looks best with nothing that would change the color,  just an oil coat to darken it and lacquer.  Check out some koa guitars and see how that looks.  But I prefer the look and feel of a few coats of tung oil or danish oil.  Bottom line is I avoid poly or shellac, even blond. 

4. 
   YesMaam27577 | Oct 27, 2009 03:49am | #4

   Another thought concerning shellac or lacquer.......

   Your project is a coffee table and end tables. Table tops generally take some punishment. Oil finishes (tung, linseed, etc.) won't last.

   You need something that can take the beating, the inevitable spills, the wet-glass-rings.

   Something like shellac (although it won't do good with alcohol spills) or lacquer, or poly.

   You might try to find a dealer that handles General Finishes products. I like them a lot (I'm not affiliated in any way), find them to be very high quality, and true to the information printed on the can.

   (True to the info..... not always the case with wood finishing products.)

   I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
   And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
   I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
   So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)