Maybe a question too general to answer, but…
I made a walnut wall shelf/coat rack (~30″x10″x7″) and am looking for a recommendation on how to finish it. I used DT’s to attach the sides and back as a decorative feature since the end grain of the back pins will finish darker.
I already have some all-purpose “Natural” stain, high gloss and semi gloss polyurethane, and mineral spirits – not to say any or all have to be used.
I would like a darker finish (unlike that of walnut with orange shellac). I was thinking about two applications of BLO thinned with mineral spirts. Any suggestions? Any pictures to go along would be helpful…
Thanks for passing on your experience.
Dan
Replies
First, you need to decide what look you want. The first dividing line is whether you want an "in-the-wood" finish, or whether you want to build a film. For an in-the-wood finish you would use a mix of oil and varnish, either mixed your self or purchased (it would be called something like Danish Oil). This you would apply, let penetrate for a bit, and then buff off all excess. Let dry and repeat a couple of times until you have an even finish. You won't notice much (or any) difference between this and starting with a coat of straight BLO. (BLO doesn't really need thinning.)
If you want a film finish, you have to decide whether you want to fill the pores in the walnut or not, and also what sheen you want, from matte to high gloss. If you don't need to fill the pores I would recommend a a wiping varnish, either made by thinning a full strength varnish, or purchased as a wiping varnish. I preferr varnishes without polyurethane. In my opinion, thin coats and a thin total film look best when pores aren't being filled.
Use oil based pore filler, tinted to a walnut shade, if you want to fill pores. This may well be overkill for a coat rack. Then for a top coat use oil based varnish in your desired sheen. This could be wipe on or brush on as you prefer.
Remember, test your proposed finish, from beginning to end, on scrap of the same wood before applying anything to your actual project.
Edited 4/24/2009 1:38 am ET by SteveSchoene
Steve,
Thanks for all the helpful information. Really appreciate it.
I think you've sold me on "in-the-wood". Wiping on and wiping off sounds just about my speed. I assume a flim finish would be more for table tops. Filling the pores sounds like a lot of work but I could definitely see how it would be worth it for a larger piece.
Anyway, thanks again.
Dan
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