Weird finish reaction

[BobD]

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Judy and Dave Peterson were at the office the other day, and showed me these puzzles. They are cut from padauk, and finished with Judy's standard Danish oil.

It's kinda waxy/fuzzy....

Bob

[thecopperfish]

The only time I've seen anything like that was on some verawood I was using. Verawood is extremely oily, and I had a finish reaction that looked like that. I learned I had to clean the vera with denatured alcohol several times before finishing it, that seemed to dry it out enough to take the finish properly and so far it remains looking good. I was using a different finish though, I was using laquer. I don't know if this helps or not.
Chris

[Janette]

I had tiny white spots that looked like white out appear on purpleheart once. I figured it was the same thing- oil coming up from the wood. Not realizing what it was I was trying to wipe it off, then pick, then sand...argghhh!!

[Sue Chrestensen]

I've seen a 'film' develop when I have kept wood and finish in the basement with fairly cold weather happening ..(cold by california standards).. I figured that the recommended storage temp on the can was accurate..

[sawdustus]

Bob, I am going to quote from Bob Flexner's book, Understanding Wood Finishing, Pages 67 and 287. I hope this answers your question and explains why at the same time.

"Oily woods, such as teak, rosewood, cocobolo and ebony, present a problem in finishing because the wood's natural oil inhibits the curing of oil and varnish finishes. (The oil also prevents other finishes, such as lacquer and water base, from establishing a good bond with the wood.) ...no "oil" finish contains anything to counteract the problems caused by the wood's oil...[therefore] its usually best to wipe the wood down with a fast-evaporating solvent, such as naphtha, acetone, or lacquer thinner, before applying the finish....Apply the finish quickly after the solvent evaporates, so the oil doesn;t have time to bleed back to the surface."

George

[BobD]

It was really interesting because this was the only time it happened. Judy uses Padauk for a lot of her puzzles (people like red dragons), and this is the only time it happened.

[CanadianScroller]

Not sure if this helps but when I was a printer there was the odd occasion where we tried mixing inks, One of which had expired
The resulting color looked good but as it ran on the press it began to emulsify.
The ink separated and went milky.
Have they tried the same finish on other pieces of wood?
Do they still have some of the padauk they could try again?
It does look like there is some contamination with something, other than that all I can think of is Sue's suggestion of temperature.

[Magpie]

I made a piece out of pine with Danish oil for my son and it did something like that this year--the only thing we can figure is that it was sitting in front of the fan, so it might have something to do with that? Not sure though.

[workin for wood]

It is a wood that doesn't like finishes. No problem before doesn't really mean there weren't problems, just means not problems to this extend. Adhesion was probably always a problem, and if people are playing with her puzzles, the finish is likely well worn away. It's a terrible choice for puzzles, although I understand the want for that color. Padouk to me is very ugly wood and the only reason I ever use any is that I still have some scraps laying around. That aside, I think it's unsafe for children to play with, as I'm sure there's a long list of woods in that category. I think Walnut is the best color for a dragon puzzle, but it isn't the best choice for children either. If I was making puzzles, I'd make them all from pine, the proven choice for generations of toys. I'd use water based dyes and then oil or spray them. As long as it isn't a lead based finish, once it's cured it'll be fine in the kids mouth. No offense I hope in assuming that the puzzles are for kids...but chances are good that even if adults are buying them for themselves, that eventually some kid ends up at that adults house and gets their hands on it and invariably the puzzle becomes a snack. I know this, I have kids, was a kid and according to my wife I still am a kid.

[fantaminals]

Originally Posted by BobD

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Judy and Dave Peterson were at the office the other day, and showed me these puzzles. They are cut from padauk, and finished with Judy's standard Danish oil.

It's kinda waxy/fuzzy....

Bob

Dave Peterson here. Just wanted to report that we took the puzzle with the worst "bloom" over to Forest Products Lab. Eventually, we'll get a report on what they find. When we get that report, I'll report the result in this thread.

Dave Peterson