Finishing the Inside of a Turned Box

[Brad Kimbrell]

Well, I've finished turning my first box and think I made a mistake by oiling the inside as well as the outside. It seems that it is never going to lose that odor of the Watco Natural Oil.

I wanted some color to help bring out the grain and it was handy. I had planned to let this dry and then remount it and wax it.

What suggestions do you fellows / ladies have for me?

Thanks in advance! This turning is very cool indeed! My wife has already asked if she can keep this one... Anyone out there think this box is going ANYWHERE else??? NOT!

Oh, and I know...No pics, it didn't really happen! I just want to get the final coat of something on it first, then you guys can tell me what I should have done to make it nicer.

[Corey Hallagan]

Personally I like to use oil finishes on my turnings like this. I like a BLO/Mineral Spirits/Poly wipe on mixure as well. I have used Woodturners Polish for the interior of some projects as well. I still prefer the oil finishes.
I wouldn't remount it at this point if you have finished it.

Corey

[Bernie Weishapl]

Lot of times Brad when I don't want to wait for the smell to disappear or don't have time to wait for it to go I do what Raffan does. While it is still on the lathe I finish the inside with beeswax. I hold a stick of it on till melts and then burnish it in with a paper towel.

[Mark Pruitt]

Brad, at this point, since the finish is there and it ain't going away, how about using some potpouri to disguise the odor. Overwhelm it with a more pleasing aroma by putting the scent of your choice in the box, close it and let it sit for a few days. My .02
Mark

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Brad.........I like oil finishes too. On the few boxes I've turned, I finish the interior before I cut the box body and top away from their tenons. I friction the oil in with a paper towel while the piece is spinning on the lathe. Then I finish the exterior with the tenon partially cut away. Then after cutting away the tenon I have only the foot of the box to finish off the lathe. The top I finish while it's seated back on the body of the box.

[Dennis Peacock]

Brad,

Set that box with the box open in a warm place for a couple of days and most of the smell will go away. I just love an oil finish on more all my stuff. I use a lot of tung oil, BLO, Watco Natural Danish oil...in that order. A nice touch for the inside of a piece is applying bees wax via a friction finish method. Nice smell to the inside and the wax will hold up for a long time since it's not exposed to a high wear surface like the outside of the box.

[Frank Kobilsek]

Brad
I had a one day class with KIp Chirstiansen last year. He had us use Lemon oil on the inside and friction polish on the outside. I have used Mahoney oil/wax on insides without too much stink before and friction polish will work if the box is big enough or your fingers small enough to be safe.

Make her Mom one too and you'll be set.

Frank

[Brad Kimbrell]

Her Mom has been gone for about 13 years now, but my Mom loves anything that I've built her. A Maloof sculpted table was the last thing. She probably needs a bowl and box or two to display on it as well!

I appreciate all of the advice on oils. I too love the look of natural oil. I grabbed the Watco, but next time I'll try some of that lemon oil, BLO, etc. just to see how they act. Then I'll mount the Beall Polisher and wax it on the outside with that.

I think that I'll have to remount it to reduce the size of the lip that the top fits over. It was very close to a perfect vacuum fit before I put the oil to it and it has swelled a bit. I'll let it dry for a week or so and then check it again. Seems that it should shrink back to original size, but if not I'll adjust it and re-oil the lip. That's one of the things that I like about the oil finishes - you can renew and repair them.

[Corey Hallagan]

Brad, on the fit, let it sit for a bit like you said and then put the lid on and twist it back and forth and burnish the fit in. I did this with one of my boxes and the nice suction fit came right back.

Corey

[Ron Sardo]

I also use oil (waterlox) on the inside of my boxes and it does take a while for the smell to go away. Leaving the lid off helps but I guess you know that.

[Bill Simpson]

You could seal the smell with a bit of Wipe-on Poly. On the inside, at least, but the outside will continue to emit the "Aroma"