Does anyone know of a good way to seal and finish cherry (by hand, I do not have spray equipment) so that it does not come out blotchy? I have tried thinning my typical oil finishes in pure gum turpentine, and it does not work. 1 lbs. cut of shellac followed by oil varnish and wax, maybe? Also, I am really hoping to avoid any kind of stain.
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I use a wipe on gel varnish. Though there are several makes on the market, I prefer Bartleys. Incidently, I have even got blotching with the gel therefore I now give it a shallac sealer, one pound cut
Shellac does a great job of bringing out the grain and figure of wood and doesn't cause blotching. You can use any cut - and apply a couple of coats - a decent film of shellac under varnish is fine.
The grade of shellac you use will have a dramatic effect on the look of the cherry. Here's a link to samples of different shallac grades on a variety of woods, including cherry. http://www.woodfinishingsupplies.com/shellac_board_samples.htm
It's recommended to use a dewaxed shellac under an oil coating to avoid adhesion problems. Especially true with polyurethane.
Paul
F'burg, VA
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