how to finish Jarrah.

[drawing_blanks]

Hi,
I am making some shelves with solid timber (leftovers from my floor). I've sanded the shelves with 80 then 170 sandpaper by hand and the powered sander. Not sure what to do next because I've googled for staining jarrah and people say 'let nature does it job' and not to stain jarrah. Is it oil that I should apply to the timber then vanish as the last coat? Also, after sanding, do I need to wipe off the dust with cloth? Can't seem to find this info anywhere. Thanks.

[Master Splinter]

Here's the best guide for jarrah....

damnfinefurniture (http://www.sanding.damnfinefurniture.com/)

[Chesand]

I agree with Master Splinter.

Jarrah should not need staining and will only spoil it anyway.

[Hermit]

As soon as you put any finish on Jarrah, it will go pretty dark anyway, so stain should be unnecessary.

Always wipe off dust after sanding and before applying a finish, with a cloth moistened with water, which will raise the grain, or with white spirits, which won't. For some oily timbers, acetone is best.

Jarrah will take any standard finish - oil, poly, lacquer, wax etc. That bit's up to you and the type of finish you wish to achieve. For example, the dark timber at the rim of this pencil holder is Jarrah, finished with wipe-on poly.