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finish for maple

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Aug 19, 2008
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I'm looking for a finish for a maple bowl that will not yellow the crisp white I have now. Any suggestions? Thanks.
 
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a clear paste wax
 
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May 17, 2007
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I just finished an ambrosia maple bowl. I put shellawax on it while it was on the lathe and then finished with renisance (sp) wax. It did not discolor the wood at all.

Martha
 
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Jul 12, 2008
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To some degree all finishes add color or tone to the wood. The product that adds the least is water based lacquer.
 
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Oct 31, 2006
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maple finish

Those are all good suggestions for clearest possible finish. A key factor is the bowl use. If strictly in the gallery, anything is fine. I want three things with maple: 1) highlight the figure, curly grain, etc. 2) give natural look and feel and 3) if bowl will be used, give a more durable finish certainly than Krylon. I follow what Jimmy Clewes does--apply a light (underscore light) coat of sanding sealer like Zinsser product with alcohol/shellac base usually on the lathe. It does bring out the grain but adds much less color than applying an oil or varnish directly. Then follow with a salad bowl finish like General Finishes if that is the use. Some tung oil formulations are lighter than others and give a very good finish on top of the sanding sealer with much less darkening but good grain highlighting. The exterior water based poly contains a top UV filter I have used very successfully on box elder to preserve the color and give no darkening but not for bowls seriously used or where the grain needs to be highlighted.
 
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Mar 1, 2007
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Try some nitrocellulose sanding sealer that has had the sterates settled out and then buff with carnuba wax. Or bleach the wood and then finish.

Aaron
 
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Sep 7, 2006
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Using Deft lacquer

I've done a number of pieces of very light ambrosia maple. In order to retain the contrast between the ambrosia gray/green stains, and keep the maple as light as possible I've used Deft lacquer. I first apply a heavy coat of Deft mixed 50/50 with lacquer thinner. After covering the piece rapidly, I then wipe off all the excess finish and allow it to dry overnight. This acts as a sealer. From there I build up at least 3 or 4 coats of spray semi-gloss Deft.
Dale
 
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