Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ncsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!ncsu!mauney From: mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney) Newsgroups: net.rec.wood Subject: Re: hardwoods, finishes Message-ID: <2877@ncsu.UUCP> Date: Fri, 28-Jun-85 09:24:10 EDT Article-I.D.: ncsu.2877 Posted: Fri Jun 28 09:24:10 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 30-Jun-85 03:29:24 EDT References: <282@utastro.UUCP> Organization: N.C. State University, Raleigh Lines: 37 Wood: Cherry is the absolute best domestic hardwood. It is beautiful, available in large boards, and not excessively expensive. However, if you'd rather use something else, that's fine because that will leave more cherry available for me. Ash is a very nice light-colored wood. Strong, easy to work, not expensive. What I really recommend is to go to a good hardwood store and rummage through the stock. (Does Austin Hardwoods have a store in Austin?) Finding a wood you like the looks and price of is easier if you can actually see the choices. Finish: I am sold on Watco brand Danish Oil. It is a proprietary mix of oils and driers. It is very easy to apply (slop it on, let it soak in, wipe the excess) and gives a beatiful finish. It is not waterproof. For a surface coating I like the paste varnish from the Bartley Collection. It is very easy and gives a nice finish. I haven't figured it out, but I expect it is more expensive than other varnishes, since quite a bit is wasted. An article in Fine WoodWorking described a mixture of polyurethane and oil over Danish Oil, to give a beautiful and durable finish for tables. I haven't tried it. Making finish samples is a good idea. Buy small quantities of several finishes -- Watco, Formby's Tung Oil, shellac, varnish -- and finish squares of the wood in question. You can then see what it really looks like, and you can test whether the finish will resist wet wine glasses or whatever accidents you anticipate. -- Jon Mauney, mcnc!ncsu!mauney North Carolina State University (how much wood could a woodbutcher butcher, if a woodbutcher could butcher wood?)