Like most of us I've been plagued with the problem of retaining finishes while saving on the rather expensive Bloxygen. My "go to" finish is Waterlox, although I also mix my own for some projects. All are susceptible to the oxygenation problem. Some time ago I started pouring off some finish into smaller containers but even they use a lot of Bloxygen. I used pebbles to raise the finish to the top and reduce the surface area, but still had a problem.
The solution is a baster, that big "syringe" that one uses to baste the Thanksgiving turkey. Bloxygen being heavier than air means that it also pours out of the main container when you pour out the finish into a smaller container. If you keep the container vertical by using the baster to extract the finish you lose little Bloxygen and only need to give the container a small blast when re-sealing it.
But I still had a problem. My "small containers" are 2 oz. glass bottles I get at Michael's Crafts. They are straight tubes (no neck) with a hinged glass top and a good seal (although I replace their seals with rubber O-rings as they don't bend out of shape from reaction with the finish). I still found myself getting that gum layer from oxygenation now and then. I had been pouring off just the needed amount into one those 1 oz plastic dose cups that come with every liquid OTC medicine. But I was still also pouring off Bloxygen. I went to dipping my rag in the 2 oz bottle while holding it vertical.
I realized that when I dipped my rag into the little bottle I was also pushing out the Bloxygen and allowing oxygen in. Back to the baster, and the solution that has worked for me for some time now.
Transfer a supply of finish from the main container to your mini-container with the baster. Give the main container a small blast of Bloxygen (unless it is the first time, a bit more then) and seal it. Give your mini-container a small blast "o' the stuff", and seal it. Use a disposable 1 oz dose cup (I don't dispose of them) when you use the finish, loading it from the mini-container with the baster. Now you can dip your rag or whatever without wasting Bloxygen. Fill as many dose cups as you will need for the next few hours, the finish will last that long in the open air.
The theme of this long diatribe is the saving of Bloxygen, and therefore the expense of that fine finish saver. (I have tried alternatives I've seen on forums, they aren't cheap and they don't work for me). Keep the main container vertical by using the baster (or you could make a siphon, but that is too much work). Do the same with the smaller secondary container, taking only what you need for the next few hours and putting it in whatever is convenient for you. That practice will allow you to keep your finish with minimal waste of Bloxygen. Bloxygen "stays in the bottle" as long as it is vertical, argon is heavier than air. When you pour from the bottle (whether the big bottle or the little one) the argon also pours out.
Best, Jon
The solution is a baster, that big "syringe" that one uses to baste the Thanksgiving turkey. Bloxygen being heavier than air means that it also pours out of the main container when you pour out the finish into a smaller container. If you keep the container vertical by using the baster to extract the finish you lose little Bloxygen and only need to give the container a small blast when re-sealing it.
But I still had a problem. My "small containers" are 2 oz. glass bottles I get at Michael's Crafts. They are straight tubes (no neck) with a hinged glass top and a good seal (although I replace their seals with rubber O-rings as they don't bend out of shape from reaction with the finish). I still found myself getting that gum layer from oxygenation now and then. I had been pouring off just the needed amount into one those 1 oz plastic dose cups that come with every liquid OTC medicine. But I was still also pouring off Bloxygen. I went to dipping my rag in the 2 oz bottle while holding it vertical.
I realized that when I dipped my rag into the little bottle I was also pushing out the Bloxygen and allowing oxygen in. Back to the baster, and the solution that has worked for me for some time now.
Transfer a supply of finish from the main container to your mini-container with the baster. Give the main container a small blast of Bloxygen (unless it is the first time, a bit more then) and seal it. Give your mini-container a small blast "o' the stuff", and seal it. Use a disposable 1 oz dose cup (I don't dispose of them) when you use the finish, loading it from the mini-container with the baster. Now you can dip your rag or whatever without wasting Bloxygen. Fill as many dose cups as you will need for the next few hours, the finish will last that long in the open air.
The theme of this long diatribe is the saving of Bloxygen, and therefore the expense of that fine finish saver. (I have tried alternatives I've seen on forums, they aren't cheap and they don't work for me). Keep the main container vertical by using the baster (or you could make a siphon, but that is too much work). Do the same with the smaller secondary container, taking only what you need for the next few hours and putting it in whatever is convenient for you. That practice will allow you to keep your finish with minimal waste of Bloxygen. Bloxygen "stays in the bottle" as long as it is vertical, argon is heavier than air. When you pour from the bottle (whether the big bottle or the little one) the argon also pours out.
Best, Jon
