mahogany and walnut bookcase

[jignesh111]

hi there i've just started work on a mahogany and walnut bookcase and i wanted some advice on how to get a glass mirror finish. Would i need to use wood grain filler?

thanks

[Woodwould]

Welcome jignesh111. Yes, if you want a glass-like finish, the quickest way to achieve it is to use grain filler. It might have been easier and ultimately cheaper though to have used a laminate like Formica.

[jignesh111]

thanks woodwould i've sourced all the stock so i'm not to worried about the cost wanted the real deal. I think i need to do some reading with reguard to finishing. I presume i use a clear paste filler but what would i apply to the top of that thanks

[Woodwould]

Shellac can be built up to a very high sheen (French polish) and can fill the grain in the process, but either a coloured or clear grain filler will speed up the application. If you want a truly hard glass-like finish, then I suspect you'd want a spray finish, about which I know nothing I'm afraid.

[jignesh111]

hmm, thanks for the advice I'm gonna pop down to my dads friends workshop and see what he says.

[Cruzi]

Despite what is espoused within this forum, most people do like a good gloss finish (note the caveat), you will find people start getting very tactile with the piece.

A spray finish is the best way to get a full gloss, it is expensive and time consuming to do properly.

However I would question if it is a suitable finish for a bookcase, even the most architectural of bookcases would look a little strange when filled with books and high gloss.