Finishing a basswood slab - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

PuzzledMoose · 03-01-2007, 04:24 PM

I've got a fretwork design cut here on a 3/4 basswood slab - the kind with the bark on ..

Can I just give it a few coats of spray polyurethane - or would that do strange things to the barK?

Would dipping it in BLO/mineral spirits first darken it a little, as it does with oak? Or would that effect the bark?

Any other suggestions for finishing it?

RAIN MAN · 03-01-2007, 04:46 PM

Puzzled, Spraying the piece may be hard to get an evev finish if it is a large piece. BLO would work but you would need to keep it from gummong up on the inside cuts by using an air compressor. Bass wood will suck up a lot of finish, I would'nt recommend you spraying it. Just my opinion. Rain Man

Rivari · 03-01-2007, 05:19 PM

Ian I have sprayed basswod slabs before but only the edges where the bark is. Rainman is right on the money in that basswood really sucks up anything put on it.

The only reason I sprayed my slabs was to help protect the fragile bark from busting off.

PuzzledMoose · 03-01-2007, 05:41 PM

The holes aren't particularly small - and no veining so gumming up with BLO probably won't be a problem if the BLO is thinned with mineral spirits. I was thinking along the lines of protecting the bark, as Todd mentioned, and protecting the basswood surface and making it "wipeable".

MacS · 03-01-2007, 06:26 PM

Just a thought, you might want to make up a sample first, as everyone knows, that basswood will eat up your coatings.

Try using a "glue sizing" in this case, I would go with the 50% white glue and 50% clean water. I would go with at least 2 coats. I would use this as the "base" and then go with whatever clear coating you want to use to finish it off.

Good Luck.

tcleckler · 03-01-2007, 07:33 PM

Ian, this may or may not apply in this case but on some natural edge bowls that I have turned I would use thin CA glue where the bark meets the solid wood. This would make it a little stronger while I sanded & finished it. Just a thought.

Jediscroller · 03-01-2007, 08:00 PM

Ian,
The basswood rounds that I've done I've dunked the piece in Danish oil and sprayed with about 5 coats of Deft gloss or semi-gloss. This is an example of the end result.

PuzzledMoose · 03-01-2007, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the responses - the slab has already had one dunk of BLO ..

Mac: I'd already dunked when I read your message about sizing with wood glue but may try that next time..

The bark seems pretty tight on this slab so hopefully it will stay put.

Kevin: that's a very nice looking piece there - I was just looking at that pattern the other day on JZ's site - as you probably know he has some of T Buzelli's patterns there - looks even better cut on the slab like that though ...

Rivari · 03-01-2007, 11:59 PM

Mac I'm not sure I understand the "glue sizing" you mentioned. Is that just simply mixing the glue with water and nothing more?

You got something on your website about that or can you explain a bit more on that technique?

Thanks,
Todd

MacS · 03-02-2007, 12:09 AM

They are all good suggestions.

Glue sizing can brush or wipe on, it is a glue, so it will help some with the bark, its translucent, and is an excellent barrier coat, and it should save you some extra coatings.

Its any option that's worth saving in your finishing arsenal.

Think Twice, Finish Once...

03-01-2007, 04:24 PM	#1
PuzzledMoose Newly Customized Moose Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Truro, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,603	Finishing a basswood slab I've got a fretwork design cut here on a 3/4 basswood slab - the kind with the bark on .. Can I just give it a few coats of spray polyurethane - or would that do strange things to the barK? Would dipping it in BLO/mineral spirits first darken it a little, as it does with oak? Or would that effect the bark? Any other suggestions for finishing it? __________________ Ian Scrolling with a Dewalt 788

03-01-2007, 04:46 PM	#2
RAIN MAN Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky-across river from Cincinnati Posts: 325	finish Puzzled, Spraying the piece may be hard to get an evev finish if it is a large piece. BLO would work but you would need to keep it from gummong up on the inside cuts by using an air compressor. Bass wood will suck up a lot of finish, I would'nt recommend you spraying it. Just my opinion. Rain Man

03-01-2007, 05:41 PM	#4
PuzzledMoose Newly Customized Moose Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Truro, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,603	The holes aren't particularly small - and no veining so gumming up with BLO probably won't be a problem if the BLO is thinned with mineral spirits. I was thinking along the lines of protecting the bark, as Todd mentioned, and protecting the basswood surface and making it "wipeable". __________________ Ian Scrolling with a Dewalt 788

03-01-2007, 06:26 PM	#5
MacS Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 773	Basswood Just a thought, you might want to make up a sample first, as everyone knows, that basswood will eat up your coatings. Try using a "glue sizing" in this case, I would go with the 50% white glue and 50% clean water. I would go with at least 2 coats. I would use this as the "base" and then go with whatever clear coating you want to use to finish it off. Good Luck.

03-01-2007, 07:33 PM	#6
tcleckler Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Prattville, Alabama Posts: 186	Ian, this may or may not apply in this case but on some natural edge bowls that I have turned I would use thin CA glue where the bark meets the solid wood. This would make it a little stronger while I sanded & finished it. Just a thought. __________________ Troy Scrollin' with DeWalt DW788

03-01-2007, 05:19 PM	#3
Rivari Southern Alaskan Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 854	Ian I have sprayed basswod slabs before but only the edges where the bark is. Rainman is right on the money in that basswood really sucks up anything put on it. The only reason I sprayed my slabs was to help protect the fragile bark from busting off.

03-01-2007, 08:00 PM	#7
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,164 Blog Entries: 6	Ian, The basswood rounds that I've done I've dunked the piece in Danish oil and sprayed with about 5 coats of Deft gloss or semi-gloss. This is an example of the end result. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671

03-01-2007, 10:36 PM	#8
PuzzledMoose Newly Customized Moose Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Truro, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,603	Thanks for the responses - the slab has already had one dunk of BLO .. Mac: I'd already dunked when I read your message about sizing with wood glue but may try that next time.. The bark seems pretty tight on this slab so hopefully it will stay put. Kevin: that's a very nice looking piece there - I was just looking at that pattern the other day on JZ's site - as you probably know he has some of T Buzelli's patterns there - looks even better cut on the slab like that though ... __________________ Ian Scrolling with a Dewalt 788

03-01-2007, 11:59 PM	#9
Rivari Southern Alaskan Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wasilla, Alaska Posts: 854	Mac I'm not sure I understand the "glue sizing" you mentioned. Is that just simply mixing the glue with water and nothing more? You got something on your website about that or can you explain a bit more on that technique? Thanks, Todd

03-02-2007, 12:09 AM	#10
MacS Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 773	Glue Sizing They are all good suggestions. Glue sizing can brush or wipe on, it is a glue, so it will help some with the bark, its translucent, and is an excellent barrier coat, and it should save you some extra coatings. Its any option that's worth saving in your finishing arsenal. Think Twice, Finish Once...

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