Talk about a 'co-inkey-dence'
I've been working with camphor burl a lot lately. Although I have a more extensive background in conventional woodworking, I'm fairly new to turning. Wanting to get past pen making or spindle turning, I visited a 'seasoned' bowl turner today for instructions, and guess what I took with me for my first bowl?...camphor burl.
I understand your objective. After the camphor is worked and sanded, it has a very fair (almost bleached) and muted quality. The problem that I have encountered is that, although technically a hard wood, camphor is very porous and drinks up whatever you put on it. I have tried to curtail the darkening but to no avail. The only up-shot to it all is that with the darkening, the burl is accentuated. The pink(ish) highlights go darker and into a deeper rose color (not necessarily an up-shot but it does add to the contrast of the finished piece.) I would like to get something at least in-between as well.
Below are some photos of my first bowl...turned today (yes...yes, the Galleries are banging on my door...but they can't have it...I know what I've got). The instructor suggested and applied a Watco-type finish (BLO, tung oil, accelerator, etc). I have also included a photo of a pseudo book match panel, a chunk of burl which had been Anchor Sealed (behind and propping up the panel), and the bowl. The panel was micro sanded and then straight to Liberon Bison wax. The tones are the exact same. The waxed panel has more shine to it but darkened to the same value.
If you are successful in retaining the lighter tones, please post your method. In the meanwhile I'm going to try a few already suggested here and if I stumble across a solution, I'll do the same.
Lastly, the camphor I'm working with (from Burma) has more of a PineSol aroma to it. My instructor has worked with local camphor and advised that had more of a Vic's Vapor Rub 'bent' to it (may seem a small distinction, but not really, if you think about it). I'm curious as to your camphor, where's it is from and about it's aroma qualities? I'm usually a stickler regarding a dust mask, but when I'm working with the camphor, it's kind of a treat to go 'au natural,' if you know what I mean.
4 Attachment(s)
OK, here are the photos...
...don't know why they didn't attach above.
Krylon Clear Acrylic at Walmart
A lot of the turners in our area have started to use the Krylon spray acrylic that you can buy at Walmart for about $3 per can. You can get it in either matte or gloss finish and it dries in about 15 minutes. It's also good for spraying over alcohol based dyes and markers. It gives you a very hard clear finish. With a buffing wheel (and the gloss version), you can also get a very good high gloss look.
Steve