Hello:
I am in the process of finishing a mahogany bedside table with a Maloof style finish. 1/3 BLO..1/3 Tung Oil…1/3 Varnish. I generally use 4-5 coats and am pretty satisfied with the final outcome. My question is this…is there a final finish (coat of something) that I can put on that will give me a nice warm, satin look and really improve what I already have going? Thank for any advice and suggestions.
Don
Replies
Your finish, which is mostly oil, is an "in the wood' finish where all the excess should be wiped off. A coat of other material would leave a film on top that would completely change the nature of the finish. I would leave well enough alone.
Yotie,
Apply the last several coats using 4-0 steel wool or a white nylon abrasive pad as the applicator to burnish the underlying dry coat. But the underlying coat must be dry and hard. Give each coat at least a week, if not longer to harden (oil/varnish is "easy" to apply, but it takes a long time - no way around that for the best results). Give the coat before the final coat 4 weeks to harden.
Apply the final coat with a soft cotton applicator pad. Apply as usual, but in "wiping all the excess off," don't be as agressive as with earlier coats. You can find just the right amount of pad wetness to leave the barest of finish on the surface, which a dry part of the applicator "polishes" in the same motion as you use to wipe. This leaves a dry, but glistening look which should be what you're after.
Rich
Thank you both Steve and Rich for your advice.
Don
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