Best finish for Tassie Oak?

[Dez]

G’day
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I’m hoping for a little advice on finishing options for my current project. If possible I would ‘really’ appreciate if anyone has pictures they could post of their finished work to allow a general visual idea of how the finish appears.
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My current project is a coffee table from Tassie Oak with (hopefully tasteful) Rose Gum inlays on the top. If this is completed to a satisfactory standard, permission will be granted to complete the full set, including the addition of an entertainment unit, 2 side/end tables and a telephone table.
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One very important factor for the finish selected is that it doesn't ‘yellow’ the appearance of the timber. The dear wife wants a very light coloured timber, hence the Tassie Oak.
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I have read a number of other posts including:
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http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=34200
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From this one, I am thinking the Feast Watson Floorseal finished with EEE Ultra Shine could be a good option. Or maybe the Minwax Wipe-on Poly as I noticed they have a gloss and matt options, EEE again to finish?
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The problem is, I don’t really know how these products will affect the colour of the timber, or even if these are the best products to use. I’ll do a test before using them, but would rather spend the money on something that is ‘likely’ to work as wanted.
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Can anyone advise on the above options?
Any other options that will fit the bill?
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And even better still, does anyone have pics they can post of completed work with light coloured timber and what finish they used?
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Cheers
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Dez

[jacko]

See Deja Two in thread piccies, it is a peice made of self same T oak aka Vic Ash, finnished with home made wipe on poly and Trad Wax
Jacko

[DJ’s Timber]

Here is a link to Deja two
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...highlight=deja

Cheers DJ

[elphingirl]

Hi Dez

I finished this coffee table with Organoil Hard Burnishing Oil. It was easy to work with, smells good, and so far the finish has been resistant to marks.
Cheers

[Flowboy]

Hi Dez,

I like the Organoil products also and have used hard burnishing oil and Interior Finishing oil with success.
With the Minmax Wipe on Poly, one is actually a satin finish and gives quite a nice glow and reflection. Doesn't seem to yellow the timber at all. The gloss is fairly aggressive and really gives a plastic look. In either case I think oil underneath adds character to any timber.
I have attached photos of a bookshelf oiled with Interior finishing oil. It is made of European Oak (sides and top) and American Oak (shelves and back). If you look in Pics under Jarrah Blanket box (still on page 1, I think), the top is coated with satin Wipe on Poly.

Hope this helps, Regards

Rob

[Carry Pine]

I'm so glad Dez raised this question ( the same one I raised recently). Like Dez I would like a finish on Tassie Oak and Vic Ash that doesn't yellow. I've worked with organo oil and it not only yellows but it oranges! I'm trying to attach a picture from elphingirl to compare with some Vic Ash that I am working on at the moment. To me there is heaps of difference.<O</O
When I described the Ash as being 'grey' some Forumites said I was colourblind but you make the call.<O</O
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I'm still looking for a finish that doesn't yellow and I'm favouring Cabots clear, satin water based at the moment.
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Carry Pine<O</O

[Carry Pine]

Please notice the difference in these colours.

Feel free to comment.

Carry Pine

[echnidna]

The only finishes that don't yellow are white shellac and water based clears.
But you will still get a colour change from any of the finishes.

[Mirboo]

Please notice the difference in these colours.

Feel free to comment.

Carry Pine

It is hard to comment on the different colours visible in the pictures because so much is dependant on the lighting that was used when the pictures were taken.

My understanding is that Tassie Oak is a kind of trade name under which 3 different (although similar) species of timber are sold. It is possible that some of the colour differences could be due the particular species that was sold to you as Tassie Oak. Also, even within a species you can see a bit of colour difference.

[Carry Pine]

The only finishes that don't yellow are white shellac and water based clears.
But you will still get a colour change from any of the finishes.

Yes, that's the conclusion I've come to. Thanks Bob.
To Mirboo, everything you say is true about lighting and species but i find that in most finishes there is a yellowing of the timber. This is probably to prevent ultra violet light penetrating and the fact that people found the honey colour attractive. Personally, I don't like the honey colour and hope I've got the solution (!!) now.

Carry Pine

[Ashore]

I did a tea box for SHMBO some time back , put a light stain on the lid and front 7 back as a contrast but left the ends natural , coated in wattyl satin speed clear and got no darkening of the tassi oak
Rgds

[RufflyRustic]

As Echidna said.

My preference is for UBeaut's White Shellac.

Just a note EEE is not a finish, but Trad Wax is, eg, I'll use shellac, buff with eee to cut and do the first polish, then buff with a couple of coats of Trad Wax for a great finish.

cheers
Wendy

[TassieKiwi]

Yep. Blonde/white shellac, with trad wax. Try it! Neil may have further comment.

Den

[Dez]

Thanks everyone for all the comments and the pictures!

I'm a little hesitant about blond/white shellac although I have heard (not seen) that it produces a great clear finish. I haven't had great results from my application technique in the past so it's a bit risky!! I also didn't think it was very hard wearing and marks easily, therefore not a low maintenance finish for a coffee table... I could be wrong?

I've used Wattyl products (estapol) in the past and can't say I've been greatly impressed with the result, hence my search for something that will give a more impressive finish. I'm not sure if you can cut and polish these and what the result would be.

I realise any oil based product will change/darken the timber at least a bit so looking for something that will keep the natural unfinished itmber colour as much as possible.

At this stage, it looks like my original Minwax Wipe on poly in satin (thanks Flow Boy) could be the way to go... I saw a great black heart sassafras entertainment unit in the picture gallery finished in this which is where I got the idea from. I know it's a different timber but it looked like it held is colour really well.

Thanks again for the comments/suggestions and keep them coming if you think there's something better I could use! Still about a week away from crunch time so would appreciate any further comments.

Cheers
Dez

[TassieKiwi]

Maybe add a rag=applied Danish oil (wiping varnish) to the table surface only. You could trial this over the next week. Always good to suss on a decent sixe bit of timber first.