Shaker Candle Stand: An Oil and Varnish Finish

Comments

1. 
   Jim_Hall | Nov 05, 2020 10:58pm | #1

   I thoroughly enjoyed this series of videos by Chris Becksvoort. I especially liked that he included his finishing routine. He really is a master of his craft. By the way he also wrote an article on building a similar shaker (round) candle stand in Fine woodworking Mag issue #110 beginning on page 70. The article includes template drawings for the post and legs which I found helpful.

1. 
   user-7820942 | Jun 27, 2022 12:21am | #24

   I have used this finish one on 2 tables. It's my go to for cherry. i wonder whether CB only applied 2 coats. I like 3 or 4.

2. 
   TimR | Nov 06, 2020 05:42pm | #2

   So I just had an ad pop up before this video… Is that a new thing?

1. 
   BenStrano | Nov 09, 2020 03:00pm | #5

   You should never be served an ad on member-only videos, however mistakes happen. If you you find it happens again, let me know with an email link to the video in question... [email protected]

1. 
   TimR | Nov 09, 2020 03:19pm | #6

   OK. Just making sure. (And wanted to make sure it was brought to your attention too).
   Thanks Ben!
   It was a great series!!

3. 
   cjcgw | Nov 06, 2020 06:03pm | #3

   Truly appreciated watching this.

4. 
   GW52 | Nov 07, 2020 11:29am | #4

   Thank you for the finishing tip about the blotchiness. I learn something new every time I see one of these video workshops. Nice job.

5. 
   Rococo | Nov 15, 2020 08:23am | #7

   This was an excellent video series! Chris is an inspiring craftsman. He shared so many little tricks and tip too. I learned a lot but plan to watch it again to pick up things I may have missed. This alone was worth the price of FWW membership. Please keep these coming. — Jim

6. 
   PGMtl | Nov 16, 2020 02:49pm | #8

   Nice to see the wipe-on, wipe-off sequence. It seems "wasteful" to remove varnish from your piece, and throwing out so much of it in the rags, but it's better than having to sand drips and puddles, as I currently am with my ongoing project.
   In this piece, the author is going for a discreet matte varnish. Would repeating many wipe on/off coats build up a glass or plastic-like layer?
   It seems like the finishing process can go on for so long compared to making the actual piece... Does anyone hate finishing as much as I do? That's why I use shellac except on a table that will live outside...

7. 
   user-7596380 | Nov 16, 2020 04:46pm | #9

   Nice series. About the only thing "Missing", if you will, from this finishing video is a cautionary word or three about safely disposing of the oil-soaked rags afterwards, as they do have a tendency to spontaneously combust if they are not. [Yes, "The Voice of Experience", from many decades ago, here. And, yes, "Oops" is still not our favorite word.]

8. 
   user-7778485 | Nov 16, 2020 10:23pm | #10

   Chris noted the dramatic difference between the piece he had just finished and the "aged" sample that he had to show. I'm curious about that difference in color. (a) did the cherry appear similar to the freshly finished sample? (b) what duration has past to develop the color of the second piece?

   I'm about to embark on a cherry desk and the finishing process frightens me! As Chris is an accomplished worker in cherry his opinions carry a lot of weight.

   Thanks in advance,

9. 
   user-7301660 | Nov 17, 2020 10:53am | #11

   In the finishing video he comments that blotchy cherry is really figured cherry that just hasn't been sanded properly, but he doesn't go on to explain what the proper way to sand it actually is. Is there some other video where that is discussed? Thank you.

1. 
   Jim_Hall | Nov 20, 2020 01:17am | #14

   In the link below Mike Pekovich shows his finishing technique on his cherry chimney cupboard and mentions blotch and figure in process. I think the finishing technique Chris Becksvoort describes is what he uses to prevent blotch. Sand to 500 grit and finish with 0000 steel wool. Here's video link to Mike's video: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2012/08/07/finishing

10. 
    GOCHIEFS | Nov 17, 2020 12:23pm | #12

    The volume of this video is very low compared to others. Quality control seems to be an issue with a lot of these videos.

11. 
    aarondean | Nov 18, 2020 09:23pm | #13

    The question I have now for Mr. Becksvoort regarding his finishing technique is why does he need to cut the oil with the varnish when Tried & True makes an oil varnish product? Is it due to the manufacturer using a different ratio?

1. 
   saschafer | Nov 22, 2020 09:47pm | #15

   You can use Tried & True Varnish oil on its own, but it dries very, very slowly. In my own experience, it takes about 30 days to fully dry, and that's per coat (I use at least two and sometimes three coats). The chemical driers in the spar varnish speed this up quite a bit. (In fact, I think that's probably the primary contribution of the spar varnish.)

   So, if you have the time, Tried & True works well, but don't expect instant gratification.

1. 
   aarondean | Nov 26, 2020 08:22am | #19

   Thanks @saschafer, that's a big help. We only have so long on this bluey-green ball and I don't know anybody that has 30 days to wait between coats! Naturally Mr. Becksvoort had a reason and I was interested in trying new products.

   Cheers!

12. 
    Corrales_Bob | Nov 24, 2020 05:00pm | #16

    I accessed this video last week and bookmarked it to watch this week. When I click on the play button, it just loops and redisplays the same page.
    thanks

1. 
   user-7596380 | Nov 25, 2020 12:52pm | #17

   Mr. Corrales,
   I did the very same thing and just replayed it now this morning on my "Ancient" [in computer years] iMac w/o any problem whatsoever. Could it be you're having a browser or provider problem?

1. 
   Corrales_Bob | Nov 25, 2020 01:09pm | #18

   I got a response and a link that worked. Thanks

13. 
    user-2334491 | Sep 15, 2021 11:05pm | #20

    can you please tell me what is the green tape Mr. B uses? thank you [email protected]

1. 
   saschafer | Sep 16, 2021 08:21am | #21

   He mentions "Frog tape" in the video, which you can get at home centers, etc.

   3M also makes a green tape that's specifically designed for clamping. It's called "binding tape," and you can get it from Lee Valley. I've used it, and it has enough stretch to exert a reasonable amount of force.

1. 
   user-2334491 | Sep 16, 2021 08:25am | #22

   thank you

14. 
    user-7787036 | Jan 02, 2022 03:49pm | #23

    Wouldn’t the inclusion of the poly in the finish seal off the wood from absorbing the varnish oil portion on additional coats?

15. 
    TriedandTrueOfficial | Oct 08, 2024 11:45am | #25

    Hello - Josh from Tried & True here. This was an excellent video. The devil is certainly in the details, and when using a non-film forming finish, detail when sanding is all the more important. We also recommend 4/0 steel wool in between each coat, it helps speed up the curing by working oxygen into the surface and safeguards against accidental over-application left over from buffing dry the previous day.

    I want to clear up one major detail, our Varnish Oil is not just a pure polymerized linseed oil, it also contains refined pine resin. The formula is based on a mid-1800's shaker recipe for varnish. Our pure linseed oil is our Danish Oil. Either one may be used to mix with an oil-based poly but, the Varnish Oil being thicker and slower curing makes for a more finicky but, protective finish.

    Also, several have mentioned our Varnish Oil takes forever to cure on its own, which is only true if it is severely over-applied. When applied in a manner that just causes a dry-to-wet color shift, and then buffed dry as demonstrated in the video, dry-to-the-touch is 1-2 days, complete curing of everything below the surface takes 5-7 days. I could not say how mixing with Spar impacts this but, if it has metallic dryers it will speed up the curing.

1. 
   ben_strano | Oct 08, 2024 12:13pm | #26

   Josh,
   Thank you so much for letting us know you're from Tried and True. Where can people find you if they have questions about this product or technique?
   Ben