Finishing Blue Pine

[Rolf]

This is a question for Jannete and Chris since I think both of you use a fair amount of the blue pine.
What finish do you use on it to maintain the color.?

[workin for wood]

I have some pens of blue pine. Never saw any changes with plain old CA finish. Not much difference from CA as a finish and acrylic polyurethane...they are both plastic. It's not a wood that changes color much, if at all. Your Heron is coming along nicely, I smell another ribbon in your future!

[Rolf]

Thank you for the support Jeff.
Do you have a picture of one of the pens in the blue pine?

[workin for wood]

sorry, none in stock at the moment. I have some pretty awesome buckeye burl pens though if you prefer. Pretty similar in color, but much better character.

[Janette]

Rolf,
The blue pine is just like any other wood. I use Bartley's clear satin gel varnish - several coats. One thing pine (any pine) does do is soak up the finish. The gel (or even a liquid) would soak in and darken somewhat - but more like make it richer - than a spray. I found sprays alone to not do much to enhance the color.

The pine sucks up the finish so that the gel dries faster than on other woods, but the nice thing with it, is you can just goop on more before wiping it off.

[thecopperfish]

I have used Deft spray laquer on blue pine with good success. I do recommend a couple coats of sanding sealing first. I also haven't seen much color change over time, it seems to hold it's color pretty well.
Chris