Replies

1. 
   pzgren | Feb 18, 2006 07:07am | #1

   Two finishes I like:

   100% Tung Oil; takes a LONG time -- up to 30+ days, depending on humidity and temp -- to completely cure, but leaves a really nice, subtle, in-the-wood finish that shows off the wood.

   OR

   Tung oil + varnish mix (Formby's, for example); dries much faster, and will build with 4 or 5 coats and not look like polyurethane. Gives a bit of an orange tint to the lighter woods.

2. 
   Pondfish | Feb 18, 2006 07:33am | #2

   Oil/varnish to bring out the grain, color and "shimmer" of the walnut, topped with shellac to seal in the oil and add luster.  Buff to a satin finish with #0000 steel wool; it has to be one of the easiest yet so beautiful finishes.  Don't listen to anyone who recommends poly--it looks like gunk compared to the finish I describe.

    

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
1. 
   rudolph | Feb 18, 2006 05:57pm | #3

   Pond is right, Poly on walnut does look like gunk.I recommend mixing equal parts oil based varnish + gum terpentine + boiled lindseed oil. 6 coats. First coat apply heavily and let sit 48 hours. 1 coat in sucession after that going up to 6 coats. I just learned this from a great old woodworker and did it myself on a dining room table I made from walnut and am delighted with the results. I highly recommend it.

1. 
   Pondfish | Feb 18, 2006 06:23pm | #4

   for  varnish, I suggest an alkyd varnish; you can use turpentine or MS for the thinner, but I find it best to mix just the oil and varnish in a 50/50 mix, and then take a bit of that and thin it for the first coat or two.  The thinner helps penetrate the wood, but after a few coats it isn't doing much for you except reducing the amount of oil going on the piece.  The last coats can be applied using the O/V 50/50 mix; it's a bit more efficient than using the thinned mix.

   6 coats or more is right; when building up an o/v finish, I like to go a coat a day for a week, then let it cure a week, then add one more coat. 

   Whatever you do, be sure to wipe dry when the oil starts to get tacky.

   Be sure to top it all with several coats of shellac to get rid of the BLO smell!Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005

3. 
   ring | Feb 19, 2006 08:42am | #5

   Have a look at the Finish Line segment in the latest issue of FWW.

   DR

4. 
   Floss | Feb 21, 2006 04:20pm | #6

   I like garnet shellac. Thin the first coat to a 1 lb cut. Then add a couple more of a 2 lb cut. Rub out with 0000 steel wool and wax.

   The garnet adds a nice subtle amber tone and the walnut will age nicely with this finish.

   J.P.

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com