I am making a bench for a customer that will go in their mud room. (something to sit on when you take your shoes off, like Mr. Rogers) I will probably make it out of oak, maple or birch (customer hasn’t decided). They want the wood to be left as natural as possible (no sheen), but to be a protective finish.
WHat would be the best product to use?
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Facilities for spraying flammable and/or noxious materials?
I always spray WB, since I'm not set up with all of the necessary safety equipment for oil based. Since it is not going to be a large bench though I could apply an oil finish by hand.
Spray a water-borne varnish such as Varathane Crystal Clear outdoor varnish (gloss). The first coat will raise the grain a lot. but will work well as the sanding sealer. Let fully harden - a few day s- and off the raised fuzz. Apply 2 to 3 full coats, level sanding with 320 in between. Let the final coat cure for at least 2 weeks and level sand with 320, then 4-0 steel wool. You will have a beautiful, non gloss "natural" looking finish that will be VERY durable.Rich
As usual, Rich has given you good advise.
One small addenda. If oak or other ring porous wood is chosen, you may want to make the last coat with satin sheen, since it is hard not to leave shiny spots when leveling out a gloss finish with such open pores. (Going through the rubbing out process will give a much more natural finish that trying to just stop with a "off the gun" satin finish.
This is not a problem with diffuse porous woods such as maple or cherry.
Edited 9/28/2009 9:15 pm ET by SteveSchoene
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