Finishing Exotics

[ROBERT FALK]

G'day all...
I have produced 8 or 10 decorative craft boxes made from some very striking veneers such as Curly Anigre, Movingue, Sapele, Curly Cherry and Paduak and am at the point where they are to be finished.

What I can tell you all is that I pick a projects wood for it's natural color and figure. I really want the figure of these woods to "pop" and wonder if there is a simple finish that can be applied?

Like a lot of woodworkers I am a bit cost conscience about buying a bunch of different finishing supplies only to have them sit on a shelf and expire or to find out that I didn't like the finished produced.

I do like the simplicity of the Deft sealer and Lacquer spray finishes but find they don't really bring out the exciting figures in the wood.

Thanks in advance...

[Sam Yerardi]

Have you considered BLO or shellac (or both)?

[ROBERT FALK]

Sam
I have some shellac flakes (amber) from a previous project which I was not too impressed with when used on Burled walnut. As for BLO ...will that pop the figure?

[Sam Yerardi]

BLO is one thing that usually will depending on the wood and the grain.