Hello everybody, well I have built this end table and would like some recommendations on how to finish it. Its all walnut, so I was thinking about first giving it a good soak of BLO, wait 3-4 days and then maybe some shellac?.. but i’m not sure of a finishing scheduale.. how many coats. ect… Would you guys do something different with the top? such as a film finish? would I go overtop shellac?.. or maybe somebody has something different in mind that would bring out the beauty of this piece. thank you very much for the help!
Justin
Replies
Nice work on the table. It looks great.
I would recommend an oil/varnish mixture. It is easy to apply and provides a nice compromise: adequate protection without a plastic appearance. You are obviously not a newbie woodworker, so you are probably familiar with this. But in case you are not, I'm pretty sure there was an FWW article on this within the last couple of years. In a nut shell, take a jar, put in 1/3 blo; 1/3 varnish; 1/3 turpentine. You can also add a little color via artist oil paints. With walnut I typically add a little burnt umber to give the wood a warmer color. Shake thoroughly. Apply to the workpiece with with a cloth. Wait for 5 or 10 minutes until the finish starts to tack up, then rub off the excess with the cloth. Repeat a few times over the next several days. Done. The repeated applications may sound like a hassle, but I enjoy it. It gives you an opportunity to really appreciate the piece you spent so long making.
I read somewhere that using oil on walnut will make it extremely dark and you will lose a lot of the beauty of walnut. Any comments?
Frank
I made a bookcase of walnut and used 4 coats of Watco Dark Walnut Danish Oil, hand rubbed. I finished it off with tro coats of Johnson Wax, and it turned out great.
Linseed oil will have a continuing darkening effect over time. If you like dark go for it.
Looks like you are going to put it into service as an end table that will get daily use. Shellac is not the best choice for that kind of use. If you have spray equipment use a vinyl sealer then top coat with a pre cat lacquer after stain and pore fill. Or you can use a wipe on poly. These finishes offer much better protection and hold up better to every day ware and tare.
Steve Nearman
Fredericksburg, VA
The Master's Touch
Furniture Restoration Service
Quality restorations and repairs for over 35
years!
(540) 371-5566
http://FurnitureRepair.net/
Edited 1/13/2007 5:46 pm ET by uncleSteve
try some amber shellac on a piece of scrap I think you will like the results.
Troy
Jusolson.
I like the approach of houstonheights...it works very well with no drips or sags, etc. with one little twist. I like to first apply a thin coat or two of shellac and then the wipe on varnish without the umber added
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