Frame and panel finishing

danvgs | Posted in General Discussion on November 23, 2020 06:59pm

I’m putting together several frame and panels, the panels are blonde shellacked, 5 coats, White Oak, the frames are walnut and I am thinking about putting Watco Danish Oil on the walnut in order to darken it. What are the thoughts about prefinishing the walnut before assembly, I already started prefinishing the White Oak. This would save me from taping off the oak panels if I finished the walnut first. The construction method is all mortise and tenon, with 1/2 of them being thru tenons. Will the oil weaken the glue joint? I could shellac the tenons before oiling then sand the shellac off for the glue up. Thoughts?

Replies

gulfstar | Nov 23, 2020 07:45pm | #1
I'm ok using different woods on a piece of furniture but different finishes seems odd, and no finish should go inside the joints. How about using amber shellac on the walnut prior to assembly avoiding the tenons ? Glue spills can be whipped with a damp cloth and then, everything receives an extra coat of blond shellac.
danvgs | Nov 23, 2020 07:52pm | #2
Oh I didn’t think about using a darker shellac. That sounds like a good idea. Thanks
geedubbee | Nov 26, 2020 12:52am | #3
I pre-finish items like these for convenience. Floating panels get pre-finished anyway to avoid problems when the material moves (bare wood showing. I tape off areas that I don't want finish on. I use foam backer rod for long grooves, dados, even mortises if it makes sense.
CorruptMonk | Dec 01, 2020 02:18am | #4
Floating panels get pre-finished anyway to avoid problems when the material moves (bare wood showing. I tape off areas that I don't want finish on. myaarpmedicare.com