I’ve been reading Krenov’s Cabinetmaker’s Notebook, and have notice that some of his cabinet are oiled or waxed, but many are unfinished. Why?
Chris @ www.flairwoodworks.com
and www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
– Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. – Albert Schweitzer
Replies
Maybe because , being Krenov, he was leaving the finish to finish itself later when it felt like it, or at least to speak to him when it was ready.Sorry Chris.....
Oil and wax is a finish, not one that is as tough as some film finishes but it does add protection to the work. Oil and wax was very popular during the late 60's and early 70's, simple and fast. Shops and showrooms had a very distinct odor. This finish is easily renewed by an owner and should be renewed every few years. Problem is, most owners don't do it.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Finish has two main purposes, to enhance the grain and to resist dirt and wear.
On many types of wood the surface created by carefully used hand planes and scrapers, which Krenov raised to a high art form, will have a burnished quality that needs no further treatment to bring out the grain. Many of his finest pieces were also intended to be used in environments where dirt and wear wouldn't be likely so a finish wouldn't be needed for protection.
John White
Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998-2007
Chris , Can't say why Krenov used none on some but can speak to the advantages or disadvantages of finishing or not .
Grain and smooth surfaces can raise and no longer be smooth without any finish to keep them . Stability at least on some pieces like tabletops and other large glue ups , the finish can help prevent some movement by providing stability somewhat. A good visual example would be Grape jelly spilled on an unfinished piece , good chance it could leave stains so this may be the strongest reason actually protection from the environment , moisture especially .
The inside of some drawers can live a long life without finish .
dusty
I did a bed for our bedroom two years ago that has nothing more than a wax finish, Chris. As John W. mentioned... I simply took it to 1000 grit and burnished it. It's not exposed to moisture and the frame rarely gets touched. I expected to have to re-wax before now but the original is still holding fine. Easy enough to re-wax when the time is right.
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
It is all there. In the books.
On some woods such as ash he felt any finish was a mistake and detracted from what the hand plane blade produced.
On some of the oilier woods what the plane blade leaves is truly beautiful and any thing but wax messes with that look.
He often used very thinned down shellac on some of the less oily woods to prevent finger prints and make them easier to dust and less susceptible to dust and skin oil.
From what I gathered from reading all his books and inter views several times is that wood was a subtle and sacred thing and he enjoyed just that. He liked to stay as close to what his blades left as possible.
For example he worked with maple early in his career then went through all the fancy shmancy exotics and found himself returning to maple for it's " infinite " variety and color. Now that is " SUBTLE " but that is approximately the story he told.
Most any finish on maple messes with it. Yellows it if varnish, dulls it and soils it if oil. that leaves wax and very thin ultra blond shellac.
Of corse he was making objects for connoisseurs who appreciated his brand of art/subtly/jeneseque
Not family coffee tables to party on.
Read and reread and reread again. Sounds like heaven to me.
But what do I know . . . I like bubbinga with Maloof finish on it for a table. I do wish my wood shop teacher hadn't directed me to varnish my first maple tool box chest of drawers. After all these years it is as yellow as a yield sign.
roc
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled