I just made a chessboard out of Br. Cherry and birch. What would be a nice
finish? When I wet the cherry, it looks beautiful. How can I keep that
look?

Linseed oil? Danish Oil?

Thanks.

Jeff

"JR" wrote in message
news:SnY8j.3787$JW4.2230@trnddc05...
I just made a chessboard out of Br. Cherry and birch. What would be a nice
finish? When I wet the cherry, it looks beautiful. How can I keep that
look?

Linseed oil? Danish Oil?

Thanks.

Jeff


Just about any oil or varnish will bring out the color. A gel varnish would
probably be the easiest to apply, give more protection, and get a glass
smooth finish. Apply and " 8-10" seconds later gently wipe off the excess,
repeat 8 to 10 times.

Jeff,
Please pardon this cheap attempt at humor but this is one woodworking
project where you won't mind a few "checks" showing up.
And to stay on topic, we used a wipe on polyurethane gel on our curly
(not Brazillian) cherry bed and nightstands and the shine looks like
it is wetted.

Marc

marc rosen wrote:
Jeff,
Please pardon this cheap attempt at humor but this is one woodworking
project where you won't mind a few "checks" showing up.
And to stay on topic, we used a wipe on polyurethane gel on our curly
(not Brazillian) cherry bed and nightstands and the shine looks like
it is wetted.

Marc

Also not Brazillian Cherry, but I recently made some cherry cabinets
finished with water-based poly. Came out nice, I thought, and the color
is deepening with age.

Then I made some cutting boards for the relatives out of the scraps and
used BLO as the finish.

What a difference! Deeper color, much more depth, and did I say deeper
color? Wow! Was that the same wood?

I'd like to know how to get the depth of BLO with the durability of Poly!

Harvey

What a difference! Deeper color, much more depth, and did I say deeper
color? Wow! Was that the same wood?

I'd like to know how to get the depth of BLO with the durability of Poly!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Also, sorry, what's BLO?

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:49:12 GMT, "JR" wrote:

What a difference! Deeper color, much more depth, and did I say deeper
color? Wow! Was that the same wood?

I'd like to know how to get the depth of BLO with the durability of Poly!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Also, sorry, what's BLO?



Boiled linseed oil. Be careful with it on food items, as it contains
poisonous metallic driers. Use walnut oil from the grocery or
woodworking store on uncoated food vessels and cutting boards.

BTW, The best "grain popper / sealer" I've ever used was learned
right here on the 'wreck.

"Robert's Sealer":

1/3 BLO
1/3 Dewaxed shellac (mix your own or use canned Zinnser Seal Coat)
1/3 Pure Gum Turpentine (the pine tree stuff, do not substitute paint
thinner or mineral spirits)

What you end up with is a fast drying, BLO grain pop, with sealing
properties of shellac. It can be lightly sanded, and/or applied over
itself as needed. Use it anywhere you'd use BLO alone.

Mix it up in a squeeze bottle and rag it on. Keep it well shaken as
you apply it. Wipe it on and wipe off the excess. Wipe it off again
in 10-15 minutes. I've overcoated this sealer with solvent based
finishes after only 8 hours, and water base the next day.

Do not let anyone who hasn't actually tried it tell you the three
ingredients won't work well together.

"Bonehenge (B A R R Y)" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:49:12 GMT, "JR" wrote:

What a difference! Deeper color, much more depth, and did I say deeper
color? Wow! Was that the same wood?

I'd like to know how to get the depth of BLO with the durability of
Poly!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Also, sorry, what's BLO?



Boiled linseed oil. Be careful with it on food items, as it contains

Gotcha. Thanks. But like I said, I'm making a chessboard. Of course,
knowing my kids, its possible one of them will put a sandwich on it at some
point.

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:38:51 GMT, "JR" wrote:

Gotcha. Thanks. But like I said, I'm making a chessboard. Of course,
knowing my kids, its possible one of them will put a sandwich on it at some
point.


No worries.

Others in the thread mentioned cutting boards finished with BLO.

Bonehenge (B A R R Y) wrote:
On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:38:51 GMT, "JR" wrote:


Gotcha. Thanks. But like I said, I'm making a chessboard. Of course,
knowing my kids, its possible one of them will put a sandwich on it at some
point.



No worries.

Others in the thread mentioned cutting boards finished with BLO.

Boiled linseed oil contains metallic dryers, most commonly salts of lead
or manganese. I would not recommend using BLO on a cutting board.
Pharmaceutical mineral oil is what is often suggested.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

eclipsme writes:


I'd like to know how to get the depth of BLO with the durability of Poly!


Mix 1 part BLO, 1 part Spar Varnish and 1 part turps.

scott

"Scott Lurndal" wrote in message
...
eclipsme writes:


I'd like to know how to get the depth of BLO with the durability of Poly!


Mix 1 part BLO, 1 part Spar Varnish and 1 part turps.

scott

Spar??? Varnish? Why would you want it to remain flexible and never harden?

I like Brazilian Cherry (jatoba) specifically because it's so easy to
get a really great finish. I've tried a few different finishes and my
favorite is BLO followed by multiple coats of super blonde then rubbed
with wax using 0000 steel wool. This produces a mirror like "wet"
sheen that doesn't doesn't look cheap.