Inside versus out side

[Timothy Rowe]

I received this question from a club member, not sure how to answer the question, I think it would depend on the use of the bowl?

Thanks Guys for any help:cool2:

Tim,

Have a question about finishes that maybe you can help with. I have been finishing several of my bowls by spraying multiple coats of Deft gloss Lacquer on them and after allowing the finish to completely cure, I finish the finish. The results are a clear wet looking finish that is glass smooth. My question is, I have been finishing only the outside of the bowls so the soft texture of the polished but unfinished wood is still present on the inside to feel and IMO add warmth. Will having the outside completely sealed with a hard finish and the inside unfinished cause the outside to cloud or crack or craze or do anything surprising over time? The woods are Pecan, Cherry, and Cedar. I sent this to another member and he recommended Waterlox inside and out....... Would appreciate your input.

 

[Owen Lowe]

I received this question from a club member, not sure how to answer the question, I think it would depend on the use of the bowl?

Will having the outside completely sealed with a hard finish and the inside unfinished cause the outside to cloud or crack or craze or do anything surprising over time?

I think this is courting heartbreak. At the very least, I think the finish would cloud as moisture passes into the wood to the outside. Since lacquer is a brittle finish, I believe crazing may also result. As to warping, in furniture work, you always give a coat to the inside surface to help equalize the moisture gain and loss otherwise warping will be more severe.

I agree the use of the bowl will play a part -- if used for wet foods or rinsed, there is more risk.

In other words, your concerns are well worth it. The only thing to do is try out a couple and use them to see what happens.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Probably won't make a lot of difference. Shape of a bowl sort of negates the rules of flatwork where we varnish both sides to keep a board from - becoming curved!

Still, rather than let any foodstuff find easy shelter in the pores, why not put a couple coats of thinned poly inside, making sure you scuff off any surface finish. I like this for salad bowls and such. Makes it easier to keep clean.

 

[Richard Coers]

I think it depends on how the bowl will be used. If it is only used as a decorative piece, I see no problems with lacquer on the outside/nothing inside. Most lacquer problems occur while the solvent evaporates. After that, it's pretty tough. Now if he wants to eat cheerios with milk from it, that's another matter!

 

[Ruth Niles]

...... "My question is, I have been finishing only the outside of the bowls so the soft texture of the polished but unfinished wood is still present on the inside to feel and IMO add warmth."
*************
When I read this part of the question, my first response was why wouldn't you want the whole bowl to have a "soft texture" and "add warmth"? If it's a bowl that is meant to be loved and used, they would be more apt to appreciate the soft texture when they held it if the outside were the same as the inside.

 

[robo hippy]

I do not like a surface finish on any bowl that will be used. Eventually it will crack, chip, and or peal, and look terrible. The only way to fix it is to strip it, and start over. I prefer a soft finish both on the inside and outside of the bowl, keeping all surfaces equal.

I would thing that since most utility bowls are fairly thin, in the half inch range, the difference in the sealed side versus the unsealed side would be almost nothing.

robo hippy

 

[Wayne Spence]

RoboHippy

I do not like a surface finish on any bowl that will be used. Eventually it will crack, chip, and or peal, and look terrible. The only way to fix it is to strip it, and start over. I prefer a soft finish both on the inside and outside of the bowl, keeping all surfaces equal.

I would thing that since most utility bowls are fairly thin, in the half inch range, the difference in the sealed side versus the unsealed side would be almost nothing.

robo hippy

Please see my thread on refinishing bowls.