keeping natural colors - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

fallingacorn · 01-23-2008, 12:47 AM

hi everyone this is my first post. all the information a beginning scroller needs to get started has already been covered in these forums. i'm happy to find such access to information from such helpful, friendly and knowledgeable people.
i started scrolling a month ago, i've enjoyed fretwork and making and designing some small shelving items. after learning the etiquette of copyrights, i bought one from wooden teddy bear that was perfect for my dad. i also picked up elements 6.0 and used mr. deane's instructions for turning portraits to patterns.
i know this topic has been covered somewhat in this forum, but since i've never done woodworking in my life before now, i thought i might risk redundancy.
i've been using some free fretwork patterns on manzanita that my friend milled himself. the red wood makes the rose pattern i've been working with come out beautifully. my question is, what is the best way to finish the wood, whether for fret work or any other style, to keep its natural color. in other words, stain changes the color, true? i've read about BLO, i think mixed with spirits and stain, is there a way to keep to the wood's true color, i'm assuming without stain? once again i have no woodworking experience before now, and am not sure of proper vocabulary-- maybe there are stains that do what i'm looking for?
thankyou so much

lucky788scroller · 01-23-2008, 02:59 AM

use a UV blocking finish to slow down the inevitable color change. You cant fool mother nature, only slow her down a little. Dale

fallingacorn · 01-23-2008, 12:11 PM

thanks dale, as you can tell, i'm beyond beginner when it comes to knowledge, but my work has been pretty darn good i think. hope i continue to have a fast learning curve. a lot of inspiration in these web pages...

i just found a thread from a banned member named macS. it has links to all kinds of great finishing information that he put on the weg. i knew my degree in english was good for something... wood working! who would have thought i'd learn so much just from a little research. this forum rocks!

workin for wood · 01-23-2008, 12:14 PM

Me too...didn't know he was banned. Acrylic finishes are pretty good at keeping colors. Nothing stops color changes forever though, like Dale says, you can just slow it down.

fallingacorn · 01-26-2008, 06:32 PM

now i see the value of the search engine. lot of info in here its just hard to filter through the hits. just started working with blo recipes of my own last night after perusing a number of linked articles. turned out really pretty on a manzanita rose free pattern i got off the net. in my quest for info i also saw how a thread can go really bad and people with a really good point can sabotage themselves by forgetting there are real people reading these replies.
it turns out i didn't really understand why we finish and the many uses and techniques. it feels good to learn new things.

lucky788scroller · 01-27-2008, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallingacorn

now i see the value of the search engine. lot of info in here its just hard to filter through the hits. just started working with blo recipes of my own last night after perusing a number of linked articles. turned out really pretty on a manzanita rose free pattern i got off the net. in my quest for info i also saw how a thread can go really bad and people with a really good point can sabotage themselves by forgetting there are real people reading these replies.
it turns out i didn't really understand why we finish and the many uses and techniques. it feels good to learn new things.

Two of the famous sayings by Mac.... Always make up complete samples............. And... Its not finished until its finished!