Makka

[Makka]

Hi Everyone
I posted here a while back and got some really good info on finishing a really old large red gum table slab that I have. After much consideration I chose to finish it with Cabots Danish oil.
Whilst I am very pleased with what I have done when I oiled it I lost all of the dark Red colour I was hoping for. It is now a dark Black colour.
How do I get to keep that rich red colour I see when I look at these River Red Gum tables?

[ubeaut]

How do I get to keep that rich red colour I see when I look at these River Red Gum tables?

By not using an oil.

Most surface coatings like polyurethane, lacquer, white shellac, etc will darken the timber to at least the same colour as wetting it with water. Depending on the nature of the piece of redgum you have most oils will darken it up to as much as 3 times darker than when wet and in some instances make it almost look black and dead as it would appear has happened with yours.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers - Neil :U