Need for a finish

[Lois from Mississauga]

I have heard lots about what finishes people use on their fretwork/portrait style work. However, if the piece is going to be framed and under glass, do you still need to add a finish? I have done a few pieces and framed them under glass, so did not add a finish to them. Should I change that process and if so, why?

I would appreciate your opinions on this.

[GrayBeard Phil]

Lois:

It is your choice!

No, it is not mandatory to put a finish on.

A finish helps slow absorption of room humidity / dryness. Sort of like makes the wood react to several days running average of humidity.

A finish helps keep finger print oils away from the raw wood.

A finish helps with dusting and cleaning a home as the dust will have less nooks and hooks into the raw wood.

A finish will alter the wood 'tone' (color) and change the visual impact of the growth rings (POP the grain), and the eye catching shine of the wood.

There may be other reasons. But with the project under glass as it were, none of the above seem to apply in your case.

So, leave it to your own decision as to if you want the modification of the wood's color by the finish, or popping the grain.

BTW: I never tried it myself, but did read a hobby magazine many years ago where someone used only regular brown shoe polish on a wood project for a special effect.

Phil

[workin for wood]

Yea, I'd still put something on it. Wood looks rather dull when unfinished. How about just dowsing it in a coat of tung oil, wipe it down and call it good to go.

[tomsteve]

tung oil or boiled linseed oil does good. what i like to use for the glass is, crap i cant remember what its calle, but it's like a matted glass. ya know, the stuff that doesnt have a glossy look. i feeel that this allows me to see the work good at any angle.

[sgimbel]

you meen non-glare glass?

[jigsue]

I never put portraits under glass. I see wood as a "touchy-feely" kinda material. I did a portrait of a friend for her hubby and he has it in his front room. People comment on the portrait and then when he explains that it is, indeed, wood, they all want to touch. Great Stuff. I just put a light coat of matt acrylic varnish over the thing so that finger marks can be gently wiped. Apparently, because it is framed, it doesn't catch too much dust and a quick flick over with a feather duster is as easy as cleaning glass and removing smears.

Sue

[tomsteve]

non-glare is what i was lookin fer. now that it's a new day, my brain isn't clogged with saw dust!!! i think i'm gonna try it without glass on the next portrait, sue. good idea as i have people who dont believe that it's wood, and even worse, that it was done on a c.n.c. machine!!!!