Replies

1. 
   RW | Dec 19, 2007 05:23am | #1

   While "best" is subjective I'd be looking in the arena of CAB lacquer or waterborne. I'd probably go with CAB. Straight WB Lac on maple, brrr, no matter how you cut it.

   Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Dec 19, 2007 04:28pm | #2

   Might want to give shellac a whoosh.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   Rich14 | Dec 20, 2007 01:24am | #3

   bmw,I agree with RW about CAB Acrylic (cellulose acetate butyrate acrylic) lacquer and with Bob about shellac. CAB Acrylic is handled, thinned and applied exactly as one would standard nitrocellulose.I've been using Sherwyn Williams CAB Acrylic for years when I want a lacquer finish and to keep maple as blond as possible. It goes on water white and does not yellow itself. It also seems to prevent or slow the natural yellowing that maple itself goes through. SW has a companion high solids sanding sealer which is very useful when you require a sanding sealer. (Not needed over unstained wood at all)If you use shellac, use as blond a variety as you can get, as the darker shades of shellac will, of course, impart their color to the wood. The lightest shades of shellac will not add color to the wood, won't yellow with age, and will prevent the maple from yellowing itself.Almost any water-borne finish will also do a very good job of keeping maple light. I've used Varathane's water-borne Crystal varnish with excellent results. Water-borne finishes dry water white. Many of them look blue when applied and tend to foam a bit whether brushed or sprayed. It almost takes an act of faith that they are going to work. But they do. The first coat (or even the second to a very small extent) raises the grain. Don't fight it. It's inevitable, so use the first several coats as a "sanding sealer," expecting it to happen, whisk off the fuzz with a gentle sanding, and you're home free from that point.Rich

3. 
   FrankDrackman | Dec 20, 2007 10:18pm | #4

   I like blonde shellac for a natural finish on maple.