Finishing Makore Veneer on MDF core

[mike waters]

EDIT: Looking for something I can apply either fully by hand, or by hand and then followed up with random orbit buffer. This is the first-time I am attempting to finish a veneer on MDF as well, I have only finished liveslabs/lumber for furniture before using tung-oil/beeswax.

Hey all,
Decided to grab some makore veneer from certainly wood laid out on MDF core from superior in indiana. What would y'all suggest for a finish? I did a search on here, and saw a few different suggestions from shellac (no thanks) to waterlox (too much sheen)

Are y'all familar with Rubio Monocoat? It is a matte finish, zero sheen, it is like a black hole and sucks up reflections/light. This is what I am looking for.
I saw someone mention putting some alcohol on the Makore first to make the grain pop more? It is Quarter sawn makore, here is a link to the batch.

https://www.certainlywood.com/images...AKORE%201701-1

It is a lot more red in person than it is in the picture on the website.

IMG_1682.jpg

These are the floors I am trying to work with. And obviously just a BB carcass

[Jim Tobias]

I've used Danish Oil on Makore before and like the results but it will leave a sheen if you apply enough coats. Lately I have been using General Finishes. First coat is General Finishes Seal a Cell, then topcoat with General Finishes Arm-A Seal Oil and Urethane finish. I mainly use Semi-gloss and then buff to get final sheen where I want it to be. They have it in Satin.

Jim

[mike waters]

I've used Danish Oil on Makore before and like the results but it will leave a sheen if you apply enough coats. Lately I have been using General Finishes. First coat is General Finishes Seal a Cell, then topcoat with General Finishes Arm-A Seal Oil and Urethane finish. I mainly use Semi-gloss and then buff to get final sheen where I want it to be. They have it in Satin.

Jim

Jim - thanks for the reply!
Any chance this stuff can be applied without HVLP? I don't have a setup and have never sprayed before either :/

I should have mentioned that in my original post, this is why rubio monocoat was so appealing to me.
I should also mention, this is the first time I am ever finishing any veneer in a kitchen area.
Most of the work I've done in the past are live slab's that I used tung oil on/beeswax

edit1: watching videos on it now, very cool! it seems to be applied by hand!

edit2: also saw Sam Maloof Poly/oil? Any experience with that?

edit3: WATERLOX SEALER? After watching more videos, this finish seems to look the most natural?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PryTA4pzTZ4

He shows the difference @5:41 into video.

[Jim Tobias]

Mike,
That's the beauty of the General Finishes Arm-a Seal.....it can be wiped on. One thing I have found is to be careful and "Very Lightly" make a last pass over it as you wipe it on. This will prevent any streaking as it dries.

Jim

[Mike Cutler]

Mike
The products Jim recommended are very forgiving, very easy to work with and get good results.
I used the General Finishes Arm-R-Seal in satin to do our kitchen floor, and have done many projects with it.
I actually don't think the manufacturer recommends spraying it.
Jim is correct about that last pass. It needs to be a "wet edge" and very light.