I guess its been asked a gazillion times but here goes!!

[Wild Dingo]

What the blazes do people use to get that thick clear coat over burls and such?

Ive got some brilliant heart shaped rounds a bit over 2ft from side to side and one large almost complete map of Aussie shaped round (sorry Tassy dropped out again! :rolleyes: ) which I will get my friendly Woodmiser operator to cut into about 6... from the Tuarts that I intend eventually to make into tables some to keep and some to sell... but Ive no idea what the heck the stuff is called that they get covered in!

Excuse me ignorance here fellas... but it seems ludicrous to think that they use varnish by the truck load to get that coating and thats not thinking of the cost to do so... so is there some special goop that you get that finds its own level and ends up a thick clear hard coat?

[journeyman Mick]

There is a two part, self levelling, crystal clear finish that you mix up & pour on but IMHO it's awful, but then tastes differ. Before you spend a bomb on this finish you may want to check out markets in you area to see what sells, glassy finishes might be very popular in your neck of the woods but I've found that oiled or waxed finishes seem to find more favour. Can't help you with the name of this stuff but someone had a post about it just recently, I think it may have been in the buy and trade section of this board. BTW what is Tuart? do you know its botanical name.

Mick

[Wild Dingo]

Gidday there Mick

Tuart botanical name Eucalyptus gomphocephala... damnably hard wood and great for boat deadwoods keels and such :cool: not so nice to planers saws or other such objects of cutting once dry :(

Ive got a mass of the stuff drying out the front and am currently considering trying to do a trade for some Banksia or Wandoo a bit of good curley Jarrah would be nice and maybe some fine Rose Gum or even spotted gum would be excellent but not holding my breath for that.

Thanks for the tip mate I'll go have a gander around and see what I can find... the thick hard clear stuff seems to be a real seller around here as I guess its not so much work to clean or mark as a good french polish or such is...

[Shane Watson]

I just use a 2-part acid cure N/C or a Poly-U....Others use casting resin or products like envirotex.

[journeyman Mick]

If you are going to be working with a really hard or abrasive timber consider getting yourself some of those little diamond files/sharpening "stones". I touch up the TCT teeth on my saw blades with these. Usually two sharpens by hand and then off to the saw doctors to get professionally sharpened. I see from your other posts that you are going to be buying a whole heap of gear. Just make sure your thicknesser has blades that can be resharpened. Some of them are indexed (they have little locating holes in them) so you can't adjust them outwards to compensate for any sharpening. This gets a bit expensive as it means you need to replace your blades rather than sharpen:mad: . See about getting a sharpener for your planer/thicknesser knives as well. These are a small wooden holder with two different grit stones in them. You just run them along the knife to touch up the edge. Same story, I usually sharpen myself twice than get them touched up proffesionally. Once I get my workshop up and running I may buy a grinder with a knife sharpening attachment as I will be offering a timber dressing service.

Have fun with the boat building, be sure to post pics

Mick

[Asquared]

G'day from a fellow west aussie. I think the stuff you're looking for is called Enviro Tex. Available in all hardware store these days. Never used it so I can't comment.:confused:

If you do use it let us know how it goes.

AA:)

[Mac Simmons]

I think your looking for a two part clear epoxy coating. These are sold in different size sets. I suggest you buy a small set and give it a try, directions come with each set.
It is mixed with equal parts of the resin and the catalyst.
It is then 'poured' onto the top of the wood,as your pouring the excess will flow off the edges onto some newspapers.
A propane torch is used to break up the gas bubbles that usually appear in the coating.
Its an expensive coating, give it a try, this coating has its place on certain work.