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Question on finishing


rdatelle

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Hi everyone. I have a question on how to finish this piece. I just finished cutting it out. It's a compound 3D cut. Still have a little sanding to do on it. I was wondering if I should just give it a few coats of gloss poly or stain it and then poly it or maybe just paint it. It's for a teacher I work with and I want to give her something at the end of the school year which is in May. Any ideas. Thanks Ralph.

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You didn't sat what kind of wood it is. Personally, I don't like staining, and I don't like a shiny finish. I would soak in a 50/50 mixture of boiled linnseed oil and mineral spirits. The oil will bring out the grain and natural color of the wood. The MS allows the oil to dry in 24-36 hours. After soaking, wipe off all excess oil, then let dry. After dry I like to use a semi gloss spray lacquer.

This is how I finish all my scroll saw projects and have been happy with it for many years.

 

P.S. You did an excellent job on the ornament!

Edited by dgman
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Thanks Dan. I used Bass wood with this one because that was all I had left in 2 inch stock. I'm thinking on doing another one in maybe walnut or oak or cherry. not sure yet. I have some of the 50/50  left so maybe I'll try that first on this piece and see how it looks. I'll have to try that semi gloss lacquer to. I always used gloss poly on a lot of the stuff I did. Thanks for the advice.

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I cut a lot of compound ornaments. I like to dip them in clear Danish Oil. The BLO and MS mixture will work as well but it takes longer to dry than the Danish Oil. Another home brew is equal parts of BLO - MS - Poly. I only use that mix when I have a lot of ornaments to finish at a time. I define a lot as 10 or more.

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Ralph, it's a great looking ornament, to finish ornaments like this, I dip them in a 50/50 mixture of poly/paint thinner. The mixture is very runny, and it soaks into the wood really well to protect it. Any excess is easliy wiped away, and you end up with a semi-gloss finish when dry.

Len

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Danish oil/Antique oil/Tung oil finish, depending on the brand, is either a blend of approximately equal proportions of varnish (or polyurethane, which is technically a varnish), oil (generally boiled linseed oil) and thinner (Mineral Spirits) or just varnish and thinner.  There really isn't anything mystical about it and you can make your own by using the desired ingredients you may already have on the shelf.  By adjusting the proportions to suit your purpose, you can make your own "special blend".   The more oil you use, the less sheen and the more hand rubbed look you will achieve.  The more thinner you use, the faster the oil is absorbed into the wood and the quicker each application dries, because you are essentially adding less finish to the wood.  The more varnish/poly you use, the more protective the resulting film will be and the greater potential to achieve a glossier look.

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You didn't sat what kind of wood it is. Personally, I don't like staining, and I don't like a shiny finish. I would soak in a 50/50 mixture of boiled linnseed oil and mineral spirits. The oil will bring out the grain and natural color of the wood. The MS allows the oil to dry in 24-36 hours. After soaking, wipe off all excess oil, then let dry. After dry I like to use a semi gloss spray lacquer.

This is how I finish all my scroll saw projects and have been happy with it for many years.

 

P.S. You did an excellent job on the ornament!

Dan, I apply my finish like you.

I have seen where some mix BLO, MS and Poly.

How do you think mixing equal portions of BLO, MS and Lacquer would work.

Mix it and soak or brush it on.

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Dan, I apply my finish like you.

I have seen where some mix BLO, MS and Poly.

How do you think mixing equal portions of BLO, MS and Lacquer would work.

Mix it and soak or brush it on.

Well, seeing that Laqcuer is thinned by Laqcuer thinner not mineral spirits, I don't think it would work. I would rather spray the Laqcuer.
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Well, seeing that Laqcuer is thinned by Laqcuer thinner not mineral spirits, I don't think it would work. I would rather spray the Laqcuer.

Thanks for that reminding info.

I'm going to try it.

I'll try mixing equal portions of BLO, MS  lacquer thinner and Lacquer.

Just to see... Would eliminate cleaning my spray gun...or buying  :D

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