FINISHING with VARNISH
I about to finish a cherry (mine is quite palein color) kitchen table. I would prefer applying olil based varnish (satin) for it’s ability to bringing out the depth of the wood, but totaly I refuse to deal with the yellowish color that appears over time.
So I’m considering water-based varnish (also satin).
I’m wondering If I can use a oil sealer or say Watco danish oli (natural) as a first layer for givin a good depth to the wood, witch won’t be as interesting with w/b varnish ONLY.
My question: Is a oil first layer is compatible with subsequent layers of water based varnish?
Replies
I've used water borne poly over Boiled Linseed Oil several times without any problem. You just have to make sure that the oil no longer has any odor before you apply the top coat. Not sure about the Varnish but I don't think there would be that much difference. Try it on a test piece and see what happens.
Steve - in Northern California
Yan, here are a couple of things you need to know. First, linseed oil is amber in color and gets more amber turning to black over time. Putting a coating over it, will not change this. Second Watco is linseed oil, varnish and mineral spirits. See, there's that linseed oil again and the yellow varnish. Finally, waterborne varnish will turn yellow over time. Just not as yellow when you first apply it.
As to yellow. Amber is the color that brings out the color in cherry.
I also use water-base over oil - no problems as long as the oil is completely cured.
Instead of oil, you can use a dewaxed shellac to bring out the color of the wood. Or, Target Coatings, http://www.targetcoatings.com, has a new oil-modified water based sealer (EMTECH) that colors the wood much like shellac. They also have a good selection of water-clear, non-yellowing finishes to choose from.
If you use a water-clear, non-yellowing water-base finish over the shellac or EMTECH, you should get the exact results you are looking for. Do a couple test pieces before proceeding to the table.
The cherry will continue to darken over time regardless of the finish.
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