On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 20:23:23 +0000 (UTC), Andrew Barss
wrote:

redice wrote:
: I am looking for something with low toxicity that I don't have to wear
: gloves to apply or applies well with just a brush, something that can
: be fixed if something does happen like I can sand it back down and re
: do it without adverse affects, I mainly use linseed oil and I believe
: its Dutch oil? or a mix of linseed other things to add pigment/color to
: the linseed, but I want a finish to go over my color that will give it
: that wet hight gloss or semi gloss look.

Probably your best bet is shellac. Can be as glossy as you like
(or dulled with steel wool), is easily repaired and stripped, and
cheap. The solvent is alcohol; in commercially mixed stuff,
like Bullseye, it's likely going to contain some wood alcohol, so
apply in a room with ventilation.

For a gunstock? Remember the old tables that would get white rings
when you set a glass with some condensation on them? That was
shellac. Don't get me wrong, I really like the stuff, but I don't
think I'd use it on something that had any reasonable chance of
getting wet.

: Warning labels tend to turn me off to products. It will be used for
: finishing custom made pistol grips and gunstocks so needs to be able to
: take handling type wear and continue to look good.


For that, maybe a varnish liek Waterlox would be a better bet.

I think Waterlox is making a waterborne poly these days as well. It
(the brand) comes highly recommended at the hardwood dealer for
appearance and abrasion resistance on floors- it's probably good
enough for a grip.

It almost certainly had a warning label of some type on it, but I made
a shifter knob about a year ago and coated it with helmsman spar
polyurethane out of a spray can. 22,000 miles and four complete
seasons later, it's looking better than it was new (better because it
is cherry, and the UV has darkened it.) Very glossy, and handling has
just polished it. And I do a fair amount of driving with bits of
abrasive gunk on my hands going from jobsites back to the shop, so
it's got at least a fairly good abrasion resistance.