Any options other than mineral oil for clear finish on birdseye maple. Don't want the "plastic" type options.
-
January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details) -
Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Scott Gordon for "Orb Ligneus" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 20, 2025 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
colorless finish
- Thread starter cwearing
- Start date
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,540
- Likes
- 19
Mineral oil is a treatment, not a finish. No resistance to anything save (temporarily) water is conferred by applying. Clearest would be lacquer, or maybe super blonde shellac, depending on what you need a finish against. Think you might want just the touch of amber that super blonde would give. I don't like the acrylics.
Soft maple.
Soft maple.
Attachments
Hi Charles,
If you're seeking a true "water clear" wood finish, you're going to be looking at the quality waterborne acrylic lacquers and polys. "Quality" in this context rules out anything you may find at a big-box store because of the film specs that will often push reflected/refracted light into the blues.
The problem with all waterbornes is, of course, raising of wood fibers. You can lessen or eliminate this with a very light application of bleached (Ultra Pale) shellac or an application of artist's fixative such as Krylon Matt Finish or Workable Fix-a-tif (both rattle-cans) before applying a more substantial coating. I find that the Krylon is often enough in and by itself for display pieces such as the Box Elder jars pictured. With a couple of light coats it will produce a very nice sheen when dry and rubbed down with 4-0 wool. (see pics 1&2)
Once sealed, you can take your finish "deeper" of you wish. My most-used finish is General Finish's Enduro Clear Poly that will remain water-white. It can be applied by brush, wipe, or spray, although I prefer spraying, and has 100% burn-in between coats applied in the 4-6 hour window. It self-levels very well. After curing it will rub out to whatever gloss you choose so a pair of light coats will definitely avoid the "plastic-dipped coating" look so common with cheaper finishes. Look for it in the range of $24/qt., $65/gal. The pictured small blue urns have done well with this application over dyed maple burl.
Attachments
Last edited: