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From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.wood
Subject: Wood Finishes
Message-ID: <2375@ncsu.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Oct-83 16:47:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: ncsu.2375
Posted: Thu Oct 13 16:47:24 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Oct-83 04:41:26 EDT
Lines: 37


Another question to get this group started,  and bring people
out of the woodwork, so to speak:

     What is your favorite finish for fine wood?  In general,
     and for tables in particular.

I am building two tables at the moment (one is awaiting aquisition
of hardware for assembly,  the other is just starting).  One is
an end table table to sit next to my favorite chair and hold
my magazine,  my drink,  and maybe a lamp.  The other is a larger
table for a sewing machine.  Both are of cherry.  The construction
may be mediocre,  but the wood is beautiful.

Now then,  reading in various books I find that:
     Shellac is a great finish,  but not durable enough for tables.
       In particular,  water and alcohol leave marks,  although the
       finish is easily repaired.
     Oil is nice,  but never gets completely dry,  so a poor choice for
       something that paper or cloth will be sitting on;  an oil finish
       tends to bleed on a warm day.
     Lacquer is hard to deal with.
     Varnish dries slowly,  making a dust a big problem,  and it may discolor
       in a fairly short time.
     Wax doesn't provide much protection by itself.
And then there are all the proprietary formulas,  like  Deft and Formby's
and Minwax,  which are some combination of the above.

So.  What finish do you like to put on a table?  Are the trademark formulas
better than buying straight tung or linseed oil (for any kind of furniture)?
If God could make so many nifty kinds of trees,  why couldn't he make them
self-finishing while he was at it?

Replies to the net would be appropriate.

		    Jon Mauney
		    ncsu!mauney