My current project is a walnut bar. I’m looking for finishing suggestions for the base (not the bar top).
I want to show off the walnut grain (raised panels), and utilmately have a satin, rubbed finish look to it. But I’ll need something durable to withstand the likelihood that it will get kicked occationally from folks sitting on bar stools, and might even see a spill or two.
I’ve experimented with the FWW “Classic Walnut Finish” (using stains, shellac and glaze), but it’s a bit dark – hiding some of the wood’s true beauty – and I’m concerned that shellac might not be durable enough.
Was reading about Tung oil and Tung oil mixes (Waterlox). Sounds tempting,
Suggestions anyone?
Replies
Waterlox would be excellent, but it is NOT a tung oil mix., Tung oil in an ingredient along with phenolic resin some drier and likely some other additives. But what you get in the can is not a mixture of its ingredients, it has been manufacturered into a new compound--Varnish. As such it is dramatically more durable than any mixture of oil and varnish. Tung oil by itself is a very poor finish, soft slow drying and weak. Mixed with varnish it is only a little better. What you want is a full fledged varnish.
Waterlox Sealer/Finish vs. Satin Finish
Thanks for the advice. Using the interactive guide on the Waterlox site, it seems I can do go with 3 coats of the sealer/finish for a semi-gloss finish or 2 coats of sealer/finish + 1 coat of the Satin finish product for a satin finish (3 coats total).
Have you tried combining the two products? Perhaps that's too flat, but thought I'd get your opinion. I'd plan to experiment on some scrap, but wondered if it was worth picking up the extra product for another $30.
http://www.waterlox.com/products-item/waterlox-original-satin-tung-oil-wood-floor-finish.aspx
You can intermix all three varieties of Waterlox.. Satin and especially Gloss will need thinning for easiest wipe on application if that's what you have in mind. Frankly, I'd be using several more coats if I were wiping it on.
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