Finish for drink coasters

[dadpad]

I have been fooling around with some branch wood and made some drink coasters As per attached photos. On the left is red stringy on the right is blackwood. I quite like the lichen and bark and also the medular rays on the blackwood. I have wet down the wood in some of the photos to show off colour and grain
What to finish with is a perplexing question.
As these are supposed to be drink coasters a wipe with a damp cloth finish would be desirable along with the ability to stand hot coffee sugary drinks etc.

Over to you chaps for discussion and suggestions

[Pat]

Dadpad, don't do what I did. I sanded some Gidgee to 1000, then hit with Sanding Sealer and Trad wax. MBGitW puts her cuppa on the coaster and the wax melts:o

So I would recomend Minwax Wipe on Poly or the ArborOil so they don't melt

[Flowboy]

Hi,

Hard to go past Minwax WOP, "shockproof, knockproof, seventeen jewel"

Two or three coats of the Satin variety with very light sanding in between (1000g or up) and possibly a wipe with EEE cream at the end will give a vivid, very clear and very resilient finish.

Regards

Rob

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

This is one of the rare cases when I'd go for either a good 2-pack PolyU or, preferably, Rustin's Plastic Finish... and basically just "dip" 'em. (I can't believe I just said that! :o )

Won't feel as good, but takes a world of hard knocks. That, combined with the natural look of the pieces, would make up for the lower tactility.

[Gumby]

Minwax Wipe on poly would be my choice too. It's on my servery bench in the kitchen and cops plenty of liquids and hot cups. Just wipes clean and has held the shine for a year now. It's good stuff. (about $30 a can at Bunnings in gloss or matt)

[dadpad]

miniwax wipe on poly seems to be the finish of choice.
We dont have the big stores up here but I'll see if i can pick some up tomorrow. watch for photos when Im finished.

Ta for the advice.

~K

[sidon55]

I've made drink coasters from the large WA pine cones and just gave them a coat of laquer sander sealer, then a couple of coats of spray can gloss. Stands up well and keeps it's shine