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Thread: Huon Pine slab
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10th January 2013, 04:47 PM #1
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- Oct 2011
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- Adelaide
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Huon Pine slab
I have a Huon Pine slab I am attempting to turn into a coffee table. It has one major split and several smaller ones. I am at the moment filling these with sawdust mixed with wood glue and am reasonably happy with the result so far.What I need help with is the finish for the top. After much research I am leaning towards Feast Watson Clear Varnish. Am I on the right track here?
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10th January 2013, 09:52 PM #2
GOLD MEMBER
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- Nov 2012
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- Brisbane
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Huon Pine filler and finish
Because Huon Pine is quite an oily timber you need to be careful with what you use. I am not familiar with the Feast Watson product but if it is water based it may have some long-term problems. The items I have made with Huon have used traditional filler and finish of button shellac. Although the shellac solvent is metho the buttons have a high wax content and that seems to have a good affinity with the Huon. I melt the button shellac with a cheapo chisel heated in a blow torch and force it into the cracks then smooth it off. I polish with a solution of the buttons dissolved in metho and use a rubber (fabric pad filled with cotton wool or other absorbent material) to get a smooth, even finish. The white colour of the freshly cut Huon is mellowed by the brown of the shellac and then ages to a rich orangey brown colour as the oil reacts with the shellac. There are many antique items of Huon Pine finished like this that have lasted for over a 100 years so it definitely stands the test of time. I have attached an image of a table I made and filled & finished as described. It is only a few months old and will darken and become richer in colour with time.
Huon Pine refectory table oblique.jpg
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14th January 2013, 08:57 PM #3
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Novice
Thank you so much for your input.There is so many products out there to choose from I really appreciate your advice.
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15th January 2013, 04:11 PM #4
Frequent Learner
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- Aug 2012
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- Geelong
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Sounds like a worthy project. I wouldn't use a "varnish" on Huon myself, not only because of the high oil content of the wood but also because i feel that poly varnishes have a plastic type feel to them that takes away from the natural warmth of the wood. Just my opinion there, however I have heard many people using shellac with Huon, specifically the white shellac because it won't discolour the pale huon. U-beaut sells a white shellac which would be ideal, add some natural wax to the surface for extra protection and you'd have a beautiful finish.
I would suggest leaving the underside of the table unsealed so that you retain some of that wonderful smell the Huon produces, that is if you desire it. I have heard other users say that the shellac doesn't take away the smell but not sure how that would work since it is effectively acting as a sealer. Try it on an offcut i suppose.
Best of luck with your project and do post some pictures of your work in progress if you can, we love pictures here.
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15th January 2013, 04:43 PM #5
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