SCPDX Posted October 5, 2017 Report Share Posted October 5, 2017 There is a small sawmill here that specializes in "urban salvaged lumber" - walnut, western maple, and other assorted species - for slabs, tone wood, turning blanks, guitar blanks, finger boards, etc. They sell seconds and downfall for $1 - $2 a pound. Fun to go in occasionally and see what they have acumulated. Recenty I have picked up some real nice, highly figured walnut. Small pieces like 12" x 18" that I have made started to make into gift boxes and thinking about some other items. Question - what is the best way (or ways?) to really highlight figured grain? To really bring it out in a finished piece? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 5, 2017 Report Share Posted October 5, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCPDX Posted October 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2017 Thanks - I was reading some of the General Finishes literature - they say to only sand to a maximum 220 grit? You can oversand a surface so smooth that it won't accept a finish? What about some of the online guys that say to sand to a 400 grit, wet the surface to raise and torn grain, sand again to 400 grit for the smoothest finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenMasco Posted October 5, 2017 Report Share Posted October 5, 2017 I love the affect/effect of Liberon Finishing Oil on Walnut. I use 3~4 coats for a soft luster and it really pops the figure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 5, 2017 Report Share Posted October 5, 2017 1 hour ago, SCPDX said: Thanks - I was reading some of the General Finishes literature - they say to only sand to a maximum 220 grit? You can oversand a surface so smooth that it won't accept a finish? What about some of the online guys that say to sand to a 400 grit, wet the surface to raise and torn grain, sand again to 400 grit for the smoothest finish. Well first of all, anytime you're applying a film finish, sanding beyond 220 is just a waste of time because any additional smoothness you achieve will just be covered with finish. You sand the finish itself to a higher grit when using films. If you're applying a basic oil finish then there's a better argument for sanding to a higher grit since you will actually feel the wood and not the finish, but I still wouldn't waste my time going above 320. Turnings are a different story. Also, you don't have to raise the grain unless you're using a water based finish. Oils, shellacs and lacquers won't raise the grain nearly as much as water, and any trace of raised grained will be smoothed off as you sand your finish coats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted October 5, 2017 Report Share Posted October 5, 2017 I second the only sand to 220. 320 at most. Ive found that going any higher actually obscures the figure. You will want to test on scrap with whatever finish you end up using, Sand to different grits on scraps and see which works best. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I have started using shellac (clear) for small boxes. Pops the grain but does not yellow like poly. Dries fast, really fast, so you can do 3 coats in a day. Of course it won't take the abuse that ARS does. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 I used to sand till about 400-600. Recently, most projects have been going to 180 and then using 400 in between wipe on poly layers. The results have been pleasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted October 6, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 Penetrating oils will give you an enhancement of the natural figure color and pattern differences. You can go beyond this a little or a lot. I mostly let the natural figure do the job but, have used dyes to alter or amplify appearances. This is mahogany with a red dye so dark it is almost purple. the combination of the orange in the mahogany and the red yielded a match for a commercial piece I had to blend in with. I pushed the figure in this curly maple with BLO followed by a shellac sealer. This maple got a really intrusive treatment to get the end effect. Yellow dye to highlight the lighter parts, then sanded back. Brown dye to highlight the darker parts, then sanded back. Topcoat added. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCPDX Posted October 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 WOW great looking frame!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 There's nothing but ARS on this table. It's all about the oil. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceHoleInOne Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 1 hour ago, Eric. said: There's nothing but ARS on this table. It's all about the oil. Damn, that some killer Tiger...nice work too! -Ace- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 17 minutes ago, AceHoleInOne said: Damn, that some killer Tiger...nice work too! Thanks man. First "real" piece of furniture I ever built, believe it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 That is the curliest maple i have ever seen Eric. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 42 minutes ago, Eric. said: Thanks man. First "real" piece of furniture I ever built, believe it or not. No wonder you stuck with it. That is a beauty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted October 6, 2017 Report Share Posted October 6, 2017 4 hours ago, AceHoleInOne said: Damn, that some killer Tiger...nice work too! -Ace- Yeah, he pilfers the good stuff that the locals never get to see! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 16 minutes ago, K Cooper said: Yeah, he pilfers the good stuff that the locals never get to see! Damn right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 2 hours ago, K Cooper said: Yeah, he pilfers the good stuff that the locals never get to see! There is a reason he has 3 sheds in his back yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 13 hours ago, K Cooper said: Yeah, he pilfers the good stuff that the locals never get to see! 13 hours ago, Eric. said: Damn right! The guy at my yard does the same thing. I'd lose respect for him if he didn't. Besides, he rat-holes stuff for me that he thinks I might like; he's usually right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 I don't have three sheds...but I do have one, and it's plump. Also have two racks in the shop and a fairly sizable pile accumulating in the basement. The amount of lumber I take from the yard is absolutely microscopic on a quantity level, but I do siphon off the best and most interesting boards that I see when they come in. Honestly it's the only reason I work at the yard. I don't need the money, but I enjoy talking wood and helping the customers...and having the ability to skim the cream that comes through this place. But one guy can't even put a dent in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCPDX Posted October 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Thanks for the suggestions - test piece is what I was looking for and worked well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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