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purple heart

purple heart (post #169378)

tonyrays on Sat, 11/26/2011 - 17:35

Finishing

I am making my wife a creamer and sugar bowl. I have four pieces of spalted purple heart and have one set (bowl and lid) turned complete. What is the best way to finish this. I was thinking watco oil or boiled linseed oil and shallac. I want the finish to be almost as nice as the wood. Suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks

tony

I assume that these items are (post #169378, reply #1 of 4)

by SteveSchoene in reply to tonyrays [original] on Sat, 11/26/2011 - 19:28

I assume that these items are to be purely decorative and will never be used to hold the items implied by the names. Is that correct?

Test your finish on scrap, FIRST, or risk having to scrap your finish.

finish (post #169378, reply #2 of 4)

by tonyrays in reply to SteveSchoene [original] on Sun, 11/27/2011 - 08:37

These will be used for sugar and powdered creamer. I read an article using ca glue and linseed oil. I am looking for any suggestions I can get.

I may be the last person to ask but (post #169378, reply #3 of 4)

by roc in reply to tonyrays [original] on Sun, 11/27/2011 - 15:08

I see so few replies here I might as well jabber at you until the calvary arrives.

My work bench is purple heart. It has absolutely no finish and does not need any.

I have no experience with spalted but I assume it has some light colored wood. The oil finishes will make that look nasty I think.

I am thinking , taking you at your word that liquids will never go into the bowls, with dry creamer that bees wax will be the best finish and easily restored as needed.

Warm up the bowl and the wax a bit and rub in and polish off.

Smells great too. There are great articles in the FWW magazines on handling wax.

Jan/Feb 2000 p 46 to 51

May/June 2004 p 40 to 41

in case you have old Woodwork magazines see August 2005 p 56 to 60.

PS: spalted eyh . . . hmmm holes and stuff . . . hmmm maybe use a stiff brush after to clean up the holes.

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )