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Pages: 1 | 2 | Next | (show all) 18 Pieces of Flair Member Registered: 07/21/03 Posts: 196 Loc: Malvern, PA Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix       #5980134 - 07/03/12 07:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote   Hi folks - I'm finally finishing a cherry chest I started several years ago. This is the first project I've ever made starting with rough sawn wood, so I'm pretty excited. Of course now I'm a little nervous about the finish. I see that a mix of equal parts mineral spirits, BLO, and varnish is a nice finish for cherry. I'm not sure what kind of varnish I need. I have these on hand: and Will either of these work? Thanks for the guidance and enjoy your holiday! Post Extras:       Brian_Hinther Member Registered: 09/18/09 Posts: 63 Loc: Dietrich, Idaho Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980159 - 07/03/12 08:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote   The gel varnish might make the mixture a little too thick (more like Jello), but the bottom can looks perfect to me. Post Extras:       cputnam Member Registered: 01/28/03 Posts: 3786 Loc: Southern California Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980186 - 07/03/12 08:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote   When I asked the question, the answer was that the type/brand of varnish (gels not included) didn't matter. Depending on your cherry and your tolerance for blotching, you might want to consider adding a wash coat of shellac before the oil/varnish mix. You are testing the mix on some project scrap - right? -------------------- Thanks, Curt ----------------- "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." -- Soren Kierkegaard Post Extras:       JR1 Member Registered: 09/09/10 Posts: 6643 Loc: Teller country, Co, USA Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980364 - 07/04/12 01:39 AM Edit   Reply   Quote   ++1 for Curt! Use shellac (a ½# cut)then topcoat with pretty much any finish. If the chest is not going to be hard use I'd follow with more shellac—garnet or Thai seed look good on cherry. If its potentially going to be hard use then topcoat. The oil/varnish mixes are trendy but offer no more protection than shellac. IMHO they don't look as good either. But whatever you do test!! Remember that de gustibus non est disputandum! BTW looks nice. -------------------- homo homini lupus Post Extras:       fredhargis Member Registered: 08/21/03 Posts: 5697 Loc: Waynesfield, Ohio Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980382 - 07/04/12 05:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote   Curt hit it, any brushing varnish will do. Consider that those made with linseed oil (most of them) will turn more amber than those formulated with soya oil (P&L 38, Cabot 8000 series). Truth be told, shellac is also a nice finish of it's own and would look very nice by itself on that chest. A garnet shellac would really bring out the color and grain. If you've never used it, it can be frustrating the first time. I also like the danish oil mixes on cherry, but what most call blotching is acceptable to me. -------------------- Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy...(Benjamin Franklin) Post Extras:       18 Pieces of Flair Member Registered: 07/21/03 Posts: 196 Loc: Malvern, PA Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: fredhargis]       #5980422 - 07/04/12 07:11 AM Edit   Reply   Quote   Thanks for the input so far. I have a can on zinsser bullseye seal coat shellac. Will that cover me? I have to admit I'm dumbfounded by all these different finishes. I guess my best option is testing on some scrap and seeing what looks best. Post Extras:       fredhargis Member Registered: 08/21/03 Posts: 5697 Loc: Waynesfield, Ohio Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980608 - 07/04/12 10:21 AM Edit   Reply   Quote   The Zinsser you have will work....good luck with your trials. -------------------- Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy...(Benjamin Franklin) Post Extras:       JR1 Member Registered: 09/09/10 Posts: 6643 Loc: Teller country, Co, USA Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980783 - 07/04/12 01:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote   You definitely need to test. I'm not a big fan of zisster, they are OK if the can is in date. I buy from these guys and mix my own, that way I know what I am getting. Strongly suggest that you get Jeff Jewitt or Bob Flexner and read one or both books. They will help a lot! -------------------- homo homini lupus Post Extras:       18 Pieces of Flair Member Registered: 07/21/03 Posts: 196 Loc: Malvern, PA Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: JR1]       #5980786 - 07/04/12 01:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote   I did my first coat on a test piece and the shellac looks the same as the BLO/Varnish/MS mix. Maybe they'll look different after a couple coats. I need to start reading up on finishing. If I'm at a point where I'm actually finishing projects I start, I guess that's the next step. Post Extras:       Howard Acheson Registered: 08/07/01 Posts: 18920 Loc: Southport, NC USA Re: Which Varnish for BLO/Varnish/Mineral Spirits Mix [Re: 18 Pieces of Flair]       #5980824 - 07/04/12 02:12 PM Edit   Reply   Quote   >>>> I did my first coat on a test piece and the shellac looks the same as the BLO/Varnish/MS mix. Maybe they'll look different after a couple coats. Yes, the two will look different as you apply multiple applications. Shellac is a film finish that builds on top of the wood surface. Oil/varnish mixtures are a penetrating finish that is absorbed into the wood without build a thick film. The oil/varnish mixture produces a natural looking finish that leaves the look and feel of the grain in the wood. The shellac will leave a slick, hard finish on top of the wood that will hide the feel of the grain. Which finish you use is dependent on what you want as the "look" of the finish. My point is that the two finishes are quite different. The way to make a choice is to test out both finishing schedules on scrap from your project. Prepare the test surfaces the same and then apply the complete finishing schedule to both. -------------------- Howie......... Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | Next | (show all)

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