I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

well, I use lacquer mostly, it's cheap, fast, and easy to work with - I buy
it by the gallon and just spray it on

"Kevin Cleary" wrote in message
...
I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

On Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:54:40 -0500, Bill Noble wrote
(in message ):

well, I use lacquer mostly, it's cheap, fast, and easy to work with - I buy
it by the gallon and just spray it on

"Kevin Cleary" wrote in message
...
I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.


I kinda like shellac - either the clear or the amber. It's reasonably priced,
cleans up with alcohol, dries quickly. Water soluble poly finishes are kinda
nice, too, and also dry quickly, clean up with water, and don't stink up the
house. Sometimes I will use a lump of beeswax pressed against a piece of
cotton fabric... against the piece while it is spinning on the lathe. The
friction heats up the fabric, which heats up the wax, which melts into the
fabric and then into the wood. Very quick, and simple and no cleanup. Not
real durable - it's just wax, but it is food-safe. Ditto for pure tung oil,
which is very slow to set up, though.tom koehler

--
I will find a way or make one.

On Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:19:16 -0400, "Kevin Cleary" wrote:

I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

I quit using finishes years ago and went with the Beall buffing system..
On soft woods, I do use a coat or 2 of Danish oil to make them buff nicer..

I love the soft glow that buffing gives woods, especially ironwood...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Thank you all for sharing.
"Kevin Cleary" wrote in message
...
I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

On Aug 16, 4:44*pm, "Kevin Cleary" wrote:
Thank you all for sharing."Kevin Cleary" wrote in message

...

I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

Deft brush on lacquer works well too. You brush on a coat or two, and
power sand it with fine paper or scotch brite, and apply another coat
or two if needed, sand again, and wax and power buff.
Thanks, Tony
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c.../TurnedBox.jpg

On Aug 15, 11:19*am, "Kevin Cleary" wrote:
I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

Been a while since i posted , but i couldnt resist this one. I do a
little something extra at times to fiinish my bowls.

I like a really shiny glossy finish so it looks like glass.

The thing about how i do it the bowl never leaves the lathe until it
is completely done,

Once all the sanding is done, get some cheap felt and cut in to 1"
strips, keep em on hand.

Get some pumice, powdered. I use a course and a fine.

Rotate the bowl at low speeds. Sprinke course pumice on a felt strip,
and hold the coated strip against the bowl while it turns. Do this as
much as you like. Use a clean strip after you burnish with pumice. Do
the same with the fine pumice if you want to.

For finish coating i put spray laquer in a light coat on the turning
bowl. This helps keep the coat even and dries it in seconds. Once each
coat dries, take a clean felt strip and LIGHTLY hold it against the
bowl to burnish and polish that coat. If you get it too hot, it will
melt the laquer and make a mess. Then you have to remove it and start
over. Be gentle and dont let it get hot.

I stop here, speed up the rpms, and just let it spin high speed for
about 30 minutes to cure it.

Last item, i use spray gloss polyurethane. Low rpms and very light
coats. Let it spin dry in between coats. I usually do a minimum of 6
coats this way.

Another alternative to all this fuss is find an old LP record player.
Make a hub to fit the spindle. Place your bowl on the hub and turn it
at 33rpm while you spray it with poly. This does an outstanding job of
even coating.

cad aka jimmy holland

"cad" wrote in message
...
On Aug 15, 11:19 am, "Kevin Cleary" wrote:
I was just wondering what everyone was using for a finish on bowls,ect.
I want to try something different.

Been a while since i posted , but i couldnt resist this one. I do a
little something extra at times to fiinish my bowls.

I like a really shiny glossy finish so it looks like glass.

The thing about how i do it the bowl never leaves the lathe until it
is completely done,

Once all the sanding is done, get some cheap felt and cut in to 1"
strips, keep em on hand.

Get some pumice, powdered. I use a course and a fine.

Rotate the bowl at low speeds. Sprinke course pumice on a felt strip,
and hold the coated strip against the bowl while it turns. Do this as
much as you like. Use a clean strip after you burnish with pumice. Do
the same with the fine pumice if you want to.

For finish coating i put spray laquer in a light coat on the turning
bowl. This helps keep the coat even and dries it in seconds. Once each
coat dries, take a clean felt strip and LIGHTLY hold it against the
bowl to burnish and polish that coat. If you get it too hot, it will
melt the laquer and make a mess. Then you have to remove it and start
over. Be gentle and dont let it get hot.

I stop here, speed up the rpms, and just let it spin high speed for
about 30 minutes to cure it.

Last item, i use spray gloss polyurethane. Low rpms and very light
coats. Let it spin dry in between coats. I usually do a minimum of 6
coats this way.

Another alternative to all this fuss is find an old LP record player.
Make a hub to fit the spindle. Place your bowl on the hub and turn it
at 33rpm while you spray it with poly. This does an outstanding job of
even coating.

cad aka jimmy holland

you are working too hard to get a glass like finish - just use automotive
techniques - I may have a few photos on my web site, I've not updated the
gallery section for a while - here's what I do

sand properly
spray several coats of lacquer - I buy deft in gallons - it's cheap and
works
let it dry
sand properly
wet sand to 600 (I use water when wet sanding)
spin lathe up to moderate speed
use the coarse automotive polishing compound
wipe off
use the fine automotive polishing compound
use soft cloth and carnuba wax