What the heck is this?

[Hickory]

Recently folks have been asking how to identify finishes, well today I saw in the Newspaper, this tidbit of info... After reading it I thought, "That is what I do" so I thought I'd pass it on for some readers.

Working a few drops of boiled Linseed oil into the wood in an inconspicuous spot. If the oil is absorbed, it is an oil finish. If it beads up, it is a hard finish.

What kind of hard finish?
Rub some Acetone into the finish....
If it Sheds like water, its Polyurethane.
If it dissolves in 30 seconds with some rubbing, it's Lacquer.
If the finish turns into a sticky gel, it's varnish or shellac. To find out which, take a cotton swab dipped in Denatured Alcohol and apply to the finish. If the finish dissolves quickly, it's Shellac. If the reaction is slow, it's Varnish.

Of course this doesn't include Water Borne finishes, I'm not too sure on how to approach them, except I know Alcohol dissolves to a certain extent. Anyone got a fool proof way of identifying WB?

[echnidna]

look at the tin ?

[Groggy]

That's some handy info Hickory, thanks.

[Ironwood]

That's some handy info Hickory, thanks.

ditto, thanks

[Auld Bassoon]

Hi Hickory!

Noted and thanks!

I don't do much in the way of restoration, but for things that I make, I always keep a note in a sort of log book of the timber used, issues that have arisen and how solved, and of the finish(es) used. This helps if I have to do a minor repair or such.

[ozwinner]

keep a note in a sort of log book of the timber used, issues that have arisen and how solved, and of the finish(es) used. This helps if I have to do a minor repair or such.

Log Book
Star date 1265.98
The finish looked Glugy today must remember in future ( or is that in the past ) not to not buy finish from the Glug Galaxy..

Cpt Kirk....out

[Bodgy]

Thanks Hicks, something else I must try to remember.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Captains' Log Book
Star date 1265.99

Asked Scottie to beam me aboard. Received a radiata plank, warp factor 7. Told Spock to put him on report, got into an argument over "you can board a beam but can't beam a board." Bloody Vulcans.

Still have Klingons in the finish, suspect Uhuras' varnish recipe more suitable for fingernails than timber. Received results of McCoys' autopsy on Ensign Dispensable: "He's dead, Jim, and still a bit tacky." Memo to all officers: in future, do not use coffee cups to store varnish.

Kirk... out

[Auld Bassoon]

Log Book
Star date 1265.98
The finish looked Glugy today must remember in future ( or is that in the past ) not to not buy finish from the Glug Galaxy..

Cpt Kirk....out

Why Thanks Old Chap!

[zenwood]

Skew . . . I've got one thing to say to you: have a greenie!