Has anyone actually compared samples of finishes to see if the oil makes a darn bit of difference. I just did one half a cherry board with Moser Polymerized Tung Oil (3 coats) and the other without, covered them both with 6 coats of garnet shellac and a couple coats of wax. Not even my instructor could tell the difference. After seeing the lack of difference with my own eyes, Im wondering if the popping characteristics of oil are overratted or if some historian made the assumption that was the reason oil was used.
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Replies
Yes, oil is overrated for popping the grain. That's what your test validated, didn't it? :)
Edited 4/13/2006 10:57 pm ET by Spike2
Opinion wise, i think what the oil is under and on what wood makes some difference. My own very unscientific testing has me believing that oil before lacquer (with plenty of cure time inbetween) makes a dramatic difference on cherry vs just lacquer. Can't say I've tried it with shellac. Maybe I'll do that and get back to you in about, oh, 3 years sound good? :-)
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
I suspect there would be more difference with Super Blonde shellac instead of garnet, and of course in the reductio ad absurdum, a clear water borne finish, with and without the oil. But I don't see much difference between oil and an amber varnish, and the amber varnish by itself.
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