Replies

1. 
   CStanford_ | Jan 21, 2001 05:37pm | #1

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   A concoction that purports to be the finish Maloof uses is available from many mailorder outlets. At minimum, Maloof has lent his name to the product. It is essentially a long-oil polyurethane wiping varnish.

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   Kurt_Krueger | Jan 22, 2001 03:48pm | #2

   *Pick up a copy of Sam Maloof's book "Sam Maloof, Woodworker". Check your local library, if they don't have it on their shelves, some other furniture enthusiast is probably enjoying it. Anyway, Sam reveals the ingredients to the finish. As for proportions, you'll have to experiment a little, he just gives vague references to the quantities of each ingredient and says to mix it "til it looks right" I can't remember the ingr. list but do remember that it calls for a "handful" of beeswax and the mixture is heated until melted and well blended. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.-curt

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   David_Scola | Jan 22, 2001 11:37pm | #3

   *Mr Krueger,Thankyou for your reply. I was able to find the exact ingredients and mixing ratios. I'll list them for you and anyone else who might be interested. Mix one third of the following: polyurethane varnish, raw tung oil and boiled linseed oil. Apply three to four coats, waiting two days in between coats. The final top coat is made by mixing equal parts tung oil and boiled linseed oil into a double boiler( I did this outside!)melt into this mixture a little pure beeswax,how much depends on the quantity you are blending. I mixed a handfull into about a liter of mixture. The process is proceeding well so far!CheersDavid

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   CStanford_ | Jan 23, 2001 03:38am | #4

   *Yep, it's a long oil varnish. Sounds exactly like the stuff being sold as Sam's finish. I'd buy that stuff and save the stove for a nice Chateaubriand for two....... Seriously, good luck. Maloof's finish is not a mystery. It's a slow build long oil varnish that will give a nice high-gloss finish with enough coats. Being of the long oil type, you are probably getting some surface penetration and that's a good thing in my view. Make sure that you do your mixing and heating on an electrical stove element or eye. Do not do this work with an open flame source of heat.

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   David_Scola | Jan 27, 2001 03:03am | #5

   *Sir, Thank you for your response, I just e-mailed you with another question. It was returned to me. I hope that you will see this message. I mixed up my ingredients for the long oil finish and applied it to some test pieces. While doing this I realized that I had made an assumption concerning some of the ingredients, primarily the polyurethane varnish and boiled linseed oil. I purchased a gloss polyurethane, assuming it was polyurethane varnish and double boiled(treated) linseed oil. Were these safe assumptions? My source that provided me with the mix ratios is unable to verify. I do not have access to FWW #107, which I believe has some mention of the entire finish. I would greatly appreciate any input that you may offer. I would like to verify the process before I continue, to avoid any future problems.With ThanksDavid Scola