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J. Clarke J. Clarke is offline
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Default Heat Resistant Finish for Wooden Trivet?

Phil Again wrote:
On Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:31:36 +0000, Norm Dresner wrote:

I want to make a few trivets out of wood. The last wooden one I
had
that was commercially made had a shiny surface. Any tips on what
kind of finish this would be?

TIA
Norm


There are professional (read: factory use only) finishes called
conversion finishes; catalyzed lacquer. I have no experience with
these products. Two part finish, like epoxy, you mix up and have a
short pot spray life before becoming unusable.

OSHA rated breath masks are not an option, a requirement. Spray
booth is recommended.


Depends on the finish. For epoxies a mask will do. For polyurethanes
you need an air supplied respirator. Note that not using a mask will
not kill you if you have enough ventilation that the solvents don't
knock you down--the real danger with polyurethane is that it is a
respirator sensitizer--one day you're spraying it without a mask, the
next day being in the same building with an open can of the stuff puts
you in the ER.

There is a class of conversion finishes where the catalyst is
included in the can... the curing reaction starts with exposure to
lots of air and is a spray finish only. These are called
pre-catalyzed lacquers, or pre-cat lacquer. Many times sold in
smaller quart containers as you would expect. Again, normally not
sold to home based shops.


The ML Campbell Magnamax, a precatalyzed lacquer, actually brushes
pretty well.

Before you run off to Homestead Finishing dot com to buy some
pre-cat
varnishes, take a moment and look at some trivets from neighbors and
friends. Well used ones will have marks and finish wear to show the
wooden trivets have been used. Some will even have marks of hot oven
bubbled over food from the side and bottom of a dish coming in
contact
with the finish. Sort of difference between a house and a home. It
really doesn't detract. Ask the women's opinion as to their
favorite
trivet and let that be your guide for effort to heat proof a wooden
trivet.

So go ahead, try some water-borne acrylic lacquer from your local
store which will be so much safer for you to apply. Not as great of
heat proofing as the expensive pre-cat stuff, but what the heck, the
important point is the trivet gets used. Wall hangings are a
different subject.

Phil


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