Finishing RedGum Burl - Valentins Heartshaped Box

(This message was copied from the General Woodwork Forum.)

Hi all,

I've finally sorted out most of my Win98 problems after I lost all the software on my harddrive.

My Creative WebCam Go doesn't do justice to the this work of art. It really isn't that great but wanted to ask some questions anyway.

Please have a look here until I can get someone to post the pics on a server somewhere.

newserver: news-server.bigpond.net.au
newsgroup: alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking
Subject: Vaentines Heart Shaped Box

The sanding finish is very smooth. I used the 1200 grit.

The wood is from a redgum burl.
And I really like the rought features.

My first two prototypes were tested with Triton Oil and the other with Jarra Decking Oil.

Both turned the chocolate brown to almost black. Which hid the features of the wood.

What I want to do is darken the wood slightly to bring out the grain but NOT turn it black.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I'm afraid if I leave it like it is the wood could turn grey.

Maybe a wax?

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Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
Proud Tritoneer


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Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
Proud Tritoneer

Here you go Barry.

http://members.dingoblue.net.au/~watfen/barrybox1.JPG

http://members.dingoblue.net.au/~watfen/Barrybox2.JPG

Cheers!

[This message has been edited by Shane Watson (edited 10 February 2002).]

Barry,
Have you tried wetting the timber to see what the natural colour of the timber is? It may be that the timbers natural colour is rather dark itself. But I assume you have already done this?

You might be better to use a dewaxed white shellac. Then maybe finish with a finishing wax of some kind. Otherwise water white laqcuers are available. or you could go get some of that epoxy gunk that artist's use for decoparge (sp?) etc. *yuk* http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif

I have to run - am heading bush 4WD'ing for the day. Will have a longer think about it and if I think of anything else will post it here latter tonight..

Cheers & HTH



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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece! SO
Work like you don't need the money... Love like you've never been hurt...
Dance like nobodys watching...

G'day Barry - Shane hit the nail right on the head. Wet the timber first to see what colour it goes. This will be the minimum darkness you can expect to get. Use dewaxed white shellac, this won't discolour any more than the water. A couple of coats should do then cut it lightly with 1200 grit and apply a wax, preferably our Traditional Wax if you have some, and buff to give it a beautiful lustre. If you want a higher gloss give more than 2 coats of the shellac to start with.

The entire process shouldn't take any more than about 15 minutes total time over a couple of days. Allow the final coat of shellac to dry at least 24 hours before sanding.

Cheers - Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Hi Shane,
Thanks for another rescue.

Have done. The Tried and true spit and polish routine to bring out the grain. Thats how I know I can get a better finish than the other two oils I've mentioned.

Expoxy is too much hard work for a novice finisher such as myself.

But will see what I can find in the dewaxed white shellac and water white laqcuers.

Have fun 4 wheelin'. Watch out for the roos, dude!

Hi Neil,
I've havn't had a project worth purchasing proper finishing products before. But have been waiting patiently to research the ubeaut product line.

Thanks for the hyperlink to the Traditional Wax. I jumped over to: http://www.ubeaut.com.au/swinfo.htm
And was not only impressed with the content but thought 'where have I been' as it seems finishing is an art form unto itself.

I'm happy that Shane and yourself both suggest the dewaxed white shellac and that it won't discolour any more than the water.

I'm glad the process will only take a few minutes over a couple of days which will allow me to finish before Valentines Day.

Could you tell my if you have a distributor somewhere close to Glen Iris or Camberwell?



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Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
Proud Tritoneer

I think carbatec in swan st richmond stock it - give them a call. I also believe they stock U's magical waxes.

Most of my work is with redgum (one of the finest woods around http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif ) and I attest that white shelac is great on stuff that goes too dark. I find oils darken the timber way more than off the shelf products (e.g. cabbots or wattyl gloss products).
A good but sometimes crude practice is keeping some off-cuts and testing the finishing product on them before using on the finished piece. With redgum and dark timbers it is well worth the time.