Replies

1. 
   ring | May 28, 2005 08:35pm | #1

   Dick,

   I can think of only 2 reasons for the problem, although you'll probably get a few others here...

   1.  Your finish was not thoroughly mixed before you applied it, and you happened to get a streak of a different gloss.  Easy fix - just give it another coat.

   2.  The grain direction of the padauk changes dramatically beyond that line and gives the optical effect of a different finish from some angle of viewing.  Here also additional coats will improve the result.

   Wonderful wood to work with, except that the dust will dye everything in the vicinity.  And some people are allergic to it.  Use a mask, and old clothes.

   DR

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 05, 2005 10:15pm | #8

   This is a old post I just read again....

   except for a two inch streak at the edge that will be next to a wall..

   SO what.. I can not figgure out why folks want to wood to 'LOOK' perfect when it is NOT!.. Thats IS the beauty of God makin' it!

2. 
   JeffHeath | May 28, 2005 09:06pm | #2

   Dick

   A simple word of warning

   Be careful with Padauk.  Use a respirator.  The dust is known to cause respiratory problems, and I speak with experience, unfortunately.

   Jeff

1. 
   Rich14 | May 28, 2005 09:50pm | #3

   Amen!(but such a gorgeous wood!)

   Rich

3. 
   KeithNewton | May 29, 2005 07:15am | #4

   If you are sure that you got the same amount of finish as the rest of the piece, it my be reaction wood. It always seems to absorb more finish, and look duller under whatever finish is on it. However it sounds like you just may not have gotten the same or a sufficient amount of finish in the final coat.

   Do you know how to recognize and avoid reaction wood? It can occur in any species.

   Edit: You may already know that sunlight will cause the red to fade, and it will end up a tobacco brown color. So keep it away from windows.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/29/2005 12:25 am ET by rootburl

1. 
   Dick1931 | May 29, 2005 07:54pm | #5

   Good Morning -

   You commented about "reaction wood" and asked whether I knew what it was and what to do about it.  No, I don't know what it is.  Yes, I am very interested in knowing what to do about it. 

   Any information you can share or a reference I can pursue will be much appreciated.

   Thanks, Dick

    

    

    

1. 
   Rich14 | May 29, 2005 08:28pm | #6

   Dick,Almost all commercial lumber is obtained from the trunk portion of the tree from just above the ground to the lowest limbs. This is the "clear bole."Good lumber trees grow fairly straight up against gravity. All the forces in the trunk are well balanced. Lumber cut from such a tree, or region of a tree will be relatively free of internal stresses when it is cut into boards for lumber, whatever the sawing method. Although some type of cuts may be more balanced or stress-free than others.If a tree does not grow straight up against gravity, the leaning trunk must adjust its structure to keep from falling down. To illustrate the extreme of this situation, think about a branch growing out from the side of the trunk as it grows horizontally and curves upward. The structure of the branch on the underside is much more dense in fibers than the top. There are very high internal stresses in the wood that compensate for its own downward weight.While not as exaggerated, the structure of a tree trunk that has leaned or bent to seek sunlight, or from a number of other factors will have varying structural elements. The stresses are in balance with gravity, but when that function stops, the wood simply has unbalanced stresses locked in.When such wood is cut into lumber, the forces may reveal themselves immediately in highly warped boards, or they may stay locked until a woodworker starts further milling the wood. Then it warps, bends, curls like crazy. The worst place for this to happen is on the table saw when a rip cut results in the kerf closing tightly or the cut piece curling away from the blade. The stress plays all kinds of havoc. Such wood is useless as good lumber.Because the fibers in the area of stress are of a different density that surrounding wood, they may stain or accept finish differently.BUT, since reaction wood seldom makes it to a finished state, I doubt if this is a practical occurance.I think if you apply enough coats, your finish will become uniform.Rich

1. 
   Dick1931 | May 30, 2005 05:27am | #7

   Good Evening Rich -

   Your comments are interesting and nicely stated.  The example of a branch growing outward and upward makes it easy to visualize differences in the structure that would result in variations of appearance when finished.

   I'll wipe on more coats of poly and hope that resolves the difference in appearance.

   Thanks, Dick