Are different kinds of finishes better for different species of wood?

[neeboy74]

I'm just now starting to "play" with woodworking; I seem to really like the visual appearances of different species of wood; do certain kinds of finishes affect differing species of wood in predictable ways?

[areynoldsre]

Short answer - yes, most times, probably, kind of, depends...

For example I use a lot of red oak with a clear lacquer. Most times that just darkens the wood and adds a slight yellow tint that over time ages into a nice honey colored finish.

The longer answer is way too long to type in here.

Definitely something for you to research more. Lots of good books and web sites on the subject. Try the Wood Whisper's new book on finishing (I haven't read it yet but Marc knows his stuff). Bob Flexner's book "Understanding Wood Finishing" is also a good one.

But the best thing is to just to 'play' - get a scrap of wood, some finish and see what happens. My best advice is to experiment on a scrap of wood and not your completed project until you know what the finish will do. and follow the safety rules - some finishes can do bad things to your skin and lungs and fire insurance rates...