Timber Finish

[Roly]

I have just returned from Tasmania after a six day break. I saw a lot of very beautiful woodwork but unfortunately did not have an opportunity to speak with the craftsmen who produced it. Almost without fail every shopkeeper I spoke with said that the finish was a two part mix, sprayed on. It felt reaasonable and looked good.

Can anyone tell me please what this finish would be and what sort of technique would be used to aply it. I would like to try it but need more information.

Thanks in advance.

Roly

[Shane Watson]

Well that really could mean any of a number of finish's.

You mentioned that it was sprayed, so that would eliminate the more common two part finishing system used by a lot of crafts people, & that being the two part resins similar to araldite but not.

That probably leaves what i would consider the two main alternatives that are applied by spraying...

-Two part Acid Cat Lacquer &
-Two part Polyurethane.

Depending on Brands these come under differing names.
Mirotones Acid cat lacquer is 3604.
Whereas Wattyl's is called Silkwood.

These two part products really are no good for the home handy man. you would be well advised to contact your local councils environmental section before using them.

As you mentioned these products are sprayed on and are totally different than using there single part brothers. So if your used to spraying with single part products, don't expect to pick up the gun and spray two part products the same way.

Safty is whole other issue. When spraying two part products there really is no compromise. The recommended guidelines are there for a reason & no just a good quality respirator won't cut it. Although I know virtually all furniture manufactueres that use 2part spray systems fail to follow these guidelines. But walk into an automotive spraypainting shop & you'll quickly learn what is required & why.

Really you can achieve the same finish using single part products and unless your going into woodworking in some commercial sense I don't see the need to even consider changing to a 2part system, it simply isn't worth the cost & health risks and associated.

HTH

Cheers



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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[ubeaut]

There is another alternative that you didn't think about Shane.

The shop keepers didn't have a clue what was used, but "a two part mix, sprayed on" sounds good and confuses the hell out of the punters.

By the way Roly, almost everything small, turned and and with a fantastic finish was probably done with Shellawax. (especially apples etc.) We sell hundreds of litres to production turners over there just for that purpose. :

Cheers - Neil

PS Listen to Shane and give the 2 part stuff a big miss. He really knows what he is talking about. Honest.

[Glenn M]

Hi Neil,

What can you suggest for a woodturned bowl that has heaps of natural edge inclusions, meaning I can't polish it on the lathe. I really want a high luster finish for the natural edge turnings I have been doing but the stuff I have been using so far, while bringing it up nice and glossy, is a bitch to apply. I can't remember what it is right now, but you apply a coat, leave it for 5 hours, rub it back with steel wool and repeat. I don't like it much because the surface doesn't feel smooth anymore etc.

Recommendations?

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Glenn
www.woodworkbooks.com