WordArt finishing

[JoeCool]

I am enjoying scrolling, making small wood projects, BUT am at an absolute loss for methods of finishing my projects.
Right now, I have made some word art projects and am looking for some technique that is simple, quick but will allow the wordarts to look attractive and long lasting.
Can anyone give me some ideas to help me fill the info void that I am living in ?
Thanks in advance,
Joe

[CanadianScroller]

I like using tung oil. it wipes on, buffs well and dries to a more natural looking finish that varathane.
You can even make a small dipping tray to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Let the finish drip back into the tray and buff the wood to a nice luster.

I do use water borne varathane too. The clean up is really easy.

[Mick Walker]

Joe, I finish most of my cuttings with tung oil (not pure tung oil). Formby's tung oil finish or wipe on poly. I sand lightly between coats,applying 3 to 4 coats. I have used the spray water base polycrylic but prefer the oil base products. The oil products will turn the wood slightly amber though.

[earlinjax]

I use Watco primarily. Also, shellac, poly, and laquer. I find an oil works best for fretwork as you can pour some in a small pan and just dip the piece. After wiping down I use an air blower to clean out the frets.

Earl

[JoeCool]

Wow. Thanks so much guys. I appreciate your help!!!!!!!!!!!
Best wishes to all.
Joe

[Bill Wilson]

Something I just tried for the first time gave me nice results. I built the windmill clock from the latest SSW magazine and pondered how to finish the project. I sprayed a coat of BLO on first with one of those small houshold trigger sprayers. It isn't very fine, but for BLO all you need is to flood the surfaces and then wipe off/blow out the excess. Since there are so many nooks, crannies and surfaces that need finished on that piece, I figured spraying was the easiest method. I was going to let it go at that, but after letting it set for several days, I decided I wanted a little more sheen to the finish. I think a film finish of some type makes the piece easier to keep clean.

I decided to try shellac. It comes in spray cans, available at home Depot or Lowe's. I had never used it as a spray before, but knew it dried very fast and left no odor and little overspray mess to deal with. I shot it with a couple coats and it turned out pretty well. You could do the same thing for small projects with shellac or any of the other spray finishes. I've had pretty good results with water-borne poly as well. For anything with lots of inside cuts, I find that if I can't dip it, spraying some kind of finish is easiest.

Good luck and have fun!

[NMScroller]

I've had good results with spray-on polyurethane. A couple of light coats and I didn't even have to sand between coats.

Brian

[minowevie]

Hay Joe, all the ubove is great advise, if you wont another idea, not knowing how big or small your word art is. if you wont the insides of your cuts a differant color. like black or white or ??? you can brush in side the cuts with a camel hair brush. some stain.or even watterd down paint. then if some gets on the out sides. sand with some small grit sand papper. then dry at your favorit drying mettod. or what i use is a hair dryer. to go faster. then finish with your favorit finish. also. you can dab on color , on the outsides with a makup spoung your color of choice. just a idea. Evie