How to preserve natural wood color. Many exotic woods display tremendous color when newly milled from mineral stains and resins. Examples are Colobolo and many of the rosewoods. Over time they seem to oxidize and loose the vibrant colors. What finish will hold the color best?
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast
-
Our favorite articles and videos
-
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
I recommend reading James Krenov.
For many of these "oily exotics" he recommends just bee's wax and a bit of a rub now and then. Then much later scrub them down with soap and water or mineral spirits and rewax.
Another wax he recommends and I use is this one.
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1304
Serious bucks though. Best for priceless antiques but has various applications on new work. Again see his books. You won't regret reading Krenov.
roc
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
Edited 4/29/2009 11:12 pm by roc
Edited 4/29/2009 11:57 pm by roc
Thanks for your thoughts. I'll read as you suggest. I don't think cost of materials is the issue if one can save the beauty and I generally produce small pieces; I won't build what I can't easily move around alone.
Roc, I have used Renaissance for years. Current tin - 4 years, only takes a micro amount. Maybe 1/2 teaspoon for a large table top.As to cost, at $24.xx from Highland vs. Rockler Beeswax at $22.xx for 200 grams (a little less than 1/2 lb.) I don't think there is too much difference in price. Rocklers is outrageously overpriced.
Rockler's beeswax is 4 times the cost of clear filtered cosmetic grade beeswax at about $7/pound.
At $7 it becomes reasonable but Renaissance is crystal clear and doesn't yellow - Wax is and does. It (beeswax) looks good on a lot of Krenov's cherry, mahoganies and darker woods but it killed the color of his maples and pears. You can't see that in his books but it really shows the difference in person. Plus you have to dissolve the beeswax in turp to use or use up a huge amount in application and buff most of it back off...Royal pain.BB
>Renaissance for years. Current tin - 4 years, only takes a micro amountI know. I just wanted to brace the OP for the shock. It issss wax after all. Some think it ott to be pounds for a dollar instead of ounces for a quarter of a hundred dollars.To The Shop Me Hardies ! ! !rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
Many woods will change right after milling - within a matter of hours. Given that and removing other problems such as direct sun, many would recommend - when color stability is all and finish surface quality and depth of grain is of a lesser importance - a clear waterbased finish will serve. You can then follow that with clear waxes. The waterbased will rob you of depth of grain but that is the trade off. It might also change some of the mineral aspects of the piece.
You really have to decide which is more important to you. The color or the overall finish, sheen, texture and impact of the piece.
BB
Thanks for you thoughtful advice.
In a recent box, one in which I wanted to preserve the figure in the Jarrah used, I first applied a blond shellac (actually "Ubeaut White Shellac"), then finished with wax and 0000 steel wool. On a similar piece of wood, my initial trial had used a fine buffing oil, but all this did was darken the wood and obscure the grain. The blond shellac and wax did a great job.
View Image
Regards from Perth
Derek
A beautiful box! Thanks for your thoughts.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled