Hi Folks,
I’m a newbie aspiring woodworker looking for some advice on finishes for a honduras mahogany dining table. I’m looking for a hard and water resistant finish (I have two young kids) that won’t darken the natural wood color or give a glossy finish. I do have spray equipment, but alas I am stuck in the garage, so I need something that will dry fairly quickly to avoid too much dust damage.
Thanks! – Chris
Replies
Try Waterlox--It's a Danish oil type, but it builds faster and protects better than Watco. I know you can find it at Woodcraft for about $17/qt. I recently did a solid walnut dining table using it, and it gave a nice hand-rubbed look without a lot of shine. It seems to be pretty bombproof as far as water resistance, as long as h2o isn't allowed to sit on the table for extended periods of time.
I don't know what kind of resistance to darkening it will add, but in my experience, Honduran looks best after a few years when it gets that nice deep brownish red patina.
You might also look into a a spar varnish w/ a good uv blocker in it. Look at a marine supply place and get something used on boats. It will be tougher to put on than the Waterlox, but you will get a more waterproof finish, although you will probably have to do a lot of rubbing to get the sheen to look right...
Good luck
Peter
jpswoodworking.com
I use a couple coats of shellac and then an oil varnish.
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