Need advice on Maple Burl bowl

[Mike Hannah]

I just turned a small bowl out of an exceptional Maple burl. I have been using Salad Bowl Oil and then buffing with the Beall system. I am not crazy about this finish on Maple. What finish do you recommend to really make the "eyes" in the burl stand out? I would really like to put a special finish on this bowl.

[Jim Becker]

I usually use a varnish oil on turnings like this, such as Minwax Antique Oil Finish, Watco Natural, Waterlox or a shop-mixed equivalent and buffing after it's cured for about a week. (Unless it's a natural burl piece that would be impossible to buff...then, I've BLO followed by spray lacquer. The oil is what "pops" the beautiful figure in all cases. They type of oil in the product affects the dark/light aspect of the effect.

[Richard Allen]

Maple, curly maple, birdseye maple, maple burl are my favorite woods. I like the way they turn and love the way they look. I usualy use a long oil varnish on such woods.