best (clear) finish to use for exotic, colorful woods - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

obsessis · 07-02-2009, 11:31 PM

I am working with some woods like cocobolo, bloodwood, rosewood, olivewood and some other woods that are a deep shade of brown. I need to finish them somehow in a way that will have zero shine and zero color. I want the natural color of the wood to really shine through, maybe something to help out the natural grain and highlights of the wood. I also need something to finish it that will make it fairly waterproof.....it will get water on it but it won't soak in water or be out in the rain.

i bought a minwax clear satin polyurethane spray. will this work?

i have read that woods like cocobolo (really oily) won't accept certain types of finishes...it won't dry. what can I use to finish this?

i have read that people sometimes use BLO to help 'pop' the natural grain of the wood. Could I use shellac on it afterwards? would that even be a good idea?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

joseph

lucky788scroller · 07-03-2009, 02:31 PM

Here would be a good person to ask... Mac's Finishing Notebook

Jediscroller · 07-03-2009, 06:39 PM

My favorite clear finish is Deft. It's worked very well for me on all types of woods. You can get it in spray or in bulk. I will forewarn you if brushing it on that it dries VERY quickly. I've never had much luck with the Minwax pulyurethanes, they tend to bubble up and take forever to dry.

Haggard3230 · 07-04-2009, 12:49 AM

What Kevin said. I too like the Deft but Wal-mart here locally quit selling it. I have to go to Lowes now and get my 10% military discount.

unixpro · 07-04-2009, 01:04 AM

Deft is a good finish and I've had good luck with it, but I'd caution you to try it on a scrap piece of wood before you do a finished work. Some of the woods you mentioned, like Cocobolo, have a very high oil content that might interfere with the lacquer. I do know that BLO/thinner/poly (aka Sam Maloof) is not highly recommended for these woods.

obsessis · 07-04-2009, 03:30 AM

unixpro, what is recommended for those types?

what about zinsser sealcoat? i read it is a wax-free shellac that can work for cocobolo and such.

any suggestions for that would be awesome.

unixpro · 07-04-2009, 06:06 AM

Well, I've only done a bit of that kind of wood, but I usually just do a good high-quality wax. Check out this article for some pretty good information. The sealcoat seems to be a reasonably alternative too.

Good luck!

guitarman · 07-04-2009, 12:43 PM

Hey Merle, do all Lowe's stores give a military discount or is it just the one near you? David

woodgeek · 07-04-2009, 11:10 PM

Sorry to butt in Guitarman but I believe it is all Lowes. That 10% really adds up. Home Depot does too.

Rod in Oregon

Haggard3230 · 07-05-2009, 01:06 AM

Yeppers, they do. But you have to ask for it and have an ID card.

07-02-2009, 11:31 PM	#1
obsessis Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6	best (clear) finish to use for exotic, colorful woods I am working with some woods like cocobolo, bloodwood, rosewood, olivewood and some other woods that are a deep shade of brown. I need to finish them somehow in a way that will have zero shine and zero color. I want the natural color of the wood to really shine through, maybe something to help out the natural grain and highlights of the wood. I also need something to finish it that will make it fairly waterproof.....it will get water on it but it won't soak in water or be out in the rain. i bought a minwax clear satin polyurethane spray. will this work? i have read that woods like cocobolo (really oily) won't accept certain types of finishes...it won't dry. what can I use to finish this? i have read that people sometimes use BLO to help 'pop' the natural grain of the wood. Could I use shellac on it afterwards? would that even be a good idea? any help would be greatly appreciated. joseph

07-03-2009, 02:31 PM	#2
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,260	Here would be a good person to ask... Mac's Finishing Notebook __________________ Dale w/ yella saws

07-03-2009, 06:39 PM	#3
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,174 Blog Entries: 5	My favorite clear finish is Deft. It's worked very well for me on all types of woods. You can get it in spray or in bulk. I will forewarn you if brushing it on that it dries VERY quickly. I've never had much luck with the Minwax pulyurethanes, they tend to bubble up and take forever to dry. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

07-04-2009, 12:49 AM	#4
Haggard3230 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Riverton, KS on Route 66 Posts: 2,714	What Kevin said. I too like the Deft but Wal-mart here locally quit selling it. I have to go to Lowes now and get my 10% military discount. __________________ Merle SSG US Army Retired. merlehobbs@yahoo.com

07-04-2009, 12:43 PM	#8
guitarman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lewisville, N.C. Posts: 869	Hey Merle, do all Lowe's stores give a military discount or is it just the one near you? David __________________ ole' yellar and me are great friends

07-04-2009, 01:04 AM	#5
unixpro I need more weekend Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Seattle Area Posts: 615	Deft is a good finish and I've had good luck with it, but I'd caution you to try it on a scrap piece of wood before you do a finished work. Some of the woods you mentioned, like Cocobolo, have a very high oil content that might interfere with the lacquer. I do know that BLO/thinner/poly (aka Sam Maloof) is not highly recommended for these woods.

07-04-2009, 03:30 AM	#6
obsessis Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6	unixpro, what is recommended for those types? what about zinsser sealcoat? i read it is a wax-free shellac that can work for cocobolo and such. any suggestions for that would be awesome.

07-04-2009, 06:06 AM	#7
unixpro I need more weekend Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Greater Seattle Area Posts: 615	Well, I've only done a bit of that kind of wood, but I usually just do a good high-quality wax. Check out this article for some pretty good information. The sealcoat seems to be a reasonably alternative too. Good luck!

07-04-2009, 11:10 PM	#9
woodgeek Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 123	Sorry to butt in Guitarman but I believe it is all Lowes. That 10% really adds up. Home Depot does too. Rod in Oregon __________________ Rod in Molalla Oregon happily cutting with a DW 788 Last edited by woodgeek; 07-04-2009 at 11:12 PM. Reason: additional info

07-05-2009, 01:06 AM	#10
Haggard3230 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Riverton, KS on Route 66 Posts: 2,714	Yeppers, they do. But you have to ask for it and have an ID card. __________________ Merle SSG US Army Retired. merlehobbs@yahoo.com

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