Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 01, 2006 11:37pm | #1

   You are referring to what's generically known as a "washcoat."  Your report is why I keep pounding the "Practice before you touch the workpiece" drum.  A washcoat can be made with thinner and varnish or other finishes also.  I've only used shellac, so am not familiar with other approaches.

   A washcoat of de-waxed shellac can be used under most (if not all?) finishes.  Click here for a description of the Zinsser Bulls Eye Seal Coat by Michael Dresdner.  It is a great product, with a long shelf life.  You need to thin it for use as a wash coat, and the thinning chart is printed on the can.

   Jeff Jewitt has an excellent section on the options for finishing cherry in his book Great Wood Finishes.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

2. 
   correy | Apr 02, 2006 04:50am | #2

   Hello, Sometimes the blotches are from not sufficiently closing the grain prior to finishing.-C

3. 
   BArnold | Apr 02, 2006 06:02pm | #3

   Hi Got,

   I've reduced the blotchy appearance by using a 1/1 mix of BLO/Naphtha for a couple of coats.  Previously, I was using a Danish oil type mix with BLO/Poly/Thinner -- seems like the poly would begin sealing like it's supposed to do, therefore oil from subsequent coats couldn't soak in as deep as they needed to smoothe the appearance.  Here in Florida, I have the luxury of doing the oil wipes in the Sun so both the workpiece surface and oil are warm.  In cooler areas, you can thin the oil a bit more and/or warm it for better penetration.

   Regards,

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting
   Member of Mensa and Florida West Coast Woodworkers Club
   Click Here if you're interested in a good, inexpensive website host.

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   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

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