Prep’ing for a project using butternut, I can’t find any information of the best way to finish butternut. My two books on finishing don’t include it in the discussion, nothing on it seems to be in this web site or others.
May I ask, what is your favorate method for finishing butternut?
Thanks
Steve
Replies
Think of butternut as light colored walnut. It will accept dye and stain without blotching. Like walnut it has open pores. For a smooth film finish you will want a pore filler--tinted to provide a small contrast with the background color if you have used a dye to achieve the basic color. Then any top coat--shellac or varnish. Or if you have spray facilities a lacquer or waterborne acyrlic.
It also looks good with a oil finish, in-the-wood appearance. But don't use a pure oil, use a mix of oil and varnish, applied the same way--wiped on generously, allowed to penetrate for a few minutes and then all excess vigorously wiped off.
Finishing butternut
I've had good luck with tung oil and wax. It gives the wood a darker color and brings the luster of the wood out very well. It's also easier to fix any mistakes and mishaps down the road. I've never used a filler with it.
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