Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Apr 01, 2020 12:13pm | #1

   Go ahead and finish. I'd use a defaced shellac for at least a couple of coats, and then anything you want on top of that. Avoid anything water based on the bare wood.

2. 
   _mj_ | Apr 01, 2020 01:41pm | #2

   Do NOT deface the shellac...look for de-waxed shellac.

3. 
   gulfstar | Apr 01, 2020 03:27pm | #3

   What’s wrong with water based finishes on bare wood ?

4. 
   joeleonetti | Apr 01, 2020 03:52pm | #4

   After hand planning, I use dewaxed shellac. I mostly only work in cherry and mostly only use just shellac. I don't use sandpaper after the hand plane. I've spend several years digging into this topic and asked a number of individuals. At this point, I'm comfortable that there should be no problem with shellac after hand planing.

5. 
   john_c2 | Apr 01, 2020 05:12pm | #5

   Defaced. Stoopid autocorrect.

6. 
   john_c2 | Apr 01, 2020 05:13pm | #6

   Water based finishes will raise the grain. Not as much on freshly planed wood, as opposed to sanded, but it will still raise a little.

7. 
   gulfstar | Apr 01, 2020 08:53pm | #7

   I understood he didn't want to sand the wood, not the finish.

8. 
   user-6603230 | Apr 02, 2020 08:22am | #8

   Thanks for the suggestions. Of course it dawns on me I may be limited to what's on my workshop shelf, since we are currently self isolating! My question really stemmed from the fact that this is the first project where my final hand planing produced results that were good enough to not want to diminish the surface with sanding.

9. 
   gulfstar | Apr 02, 2020 09:48am | #9

   If you are satisfied with the surface you get from the tooling then sanding is not necessary for the finish to adhere. Shellac makes an excellent finish and can also be a primer for wax or most over coatings. If résistance to abrasion is important, urethane oil or water based are indicated with sanding between coats.

10. 
    mikaol | Mar 12, 2021 11:58am | #10

    You've done the research, the finish is personal preference. As I have a "finishing only" business I recommend you go with your instincts. Your first choice is probably what you should go with. Changing your mind once only leads to changing it over and over.
    Mikaol