Hey everyone, I’m making my first rocking chair from black walnut in a maloofian kinda style, and so far it’s turning out rather well. however I’m getting ready to apply a finish soon and I’d like to mix up a maloof style finish, I have some pure tung oil and BLO….so 2/3 of the mix is no problem, however I’m looking at what kind of poly/urethane to complete the mix with….I have some System Three marine coatings Spar Urethane (gloss)…would this work well to mix with the BLO and tung? if not, what is a favorable brand of poly/urethane to use?
Thanks for the help!
Replies
Surely Sam wouldn't have use a poly in that famous brew. ;o)
Thats what I originally thought too, but from what I can tell, it's fairly widely accepted that he uses a tung/BLO/Poly mix in equal parts. even his personally approved Maloof finish mixture that Rockler sells is an oil/poly mix. I even heard somewhere that he uses it on everything from rockers to tabletops.
Even if Sam does, use non-poly varnish!!
Use Olympic... Lowes carries it. It is my understanding that Minwax owns Olympic but they seem to market a slightly more consistent and higher grade product line under the Olympic label. Follow your idol, there is a LOT of ridiculous prejudice here about polyurethanes. It is not PC here to even mention the most versatile and popular clear finish ever formulated.
I have used a formula that is equal parts of BLO, tung, varnish and turpentine. I have used both poly and non-poly varnishes and the only really difference I have experienced is the color tone. Spar or marine varnishes are softer since they really truly never harden. If durability is desired, you may want to consider Behlen's Rock Hard varnish.
Hmm...I didn't know Spar never fully cured, but then again I don't have any experience with it either. I'll have to look into the rock hard stuff as well as the Olympic...I'll be indoors all the time, and will be well taken care of so I think the Olympic would work fine.
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