California Buckeye burl... a little help on a finish!

R

RobertHankins

Joined
Jun 10, 2001
Messages
1,385
I bought a chunk of California Buckeye Burl wood and need some suggestions on how to finish this stuff.
I tried a quick test piece stabilized in Minwax wood hardener just to see what would happen.
Penetrated well but will not take a decent buff...
Should I just send the rest off to get Stabilized?

K&G OR Suggestions...I also have some Redwood burl to get done.
Thanks
Robert Hankins
 
I'd send it off for stabilizing. Then take it down to 600 and buff with pink no-scratch....comes out wonderfully.
 
Tung oil. Waterlox Original for low luster. Any wood. Takes a good while to cure though and should be left to cure away from sun light for several weeks and not hurried by blowers or increasing heat above ambient. Very protective sealer used by Oriental mariners for centuries. Reqiures great patience because of cure time. Well worth the wait. The picture below is sealed and the grain wet sanded with Waterlox Original. It is all Tung oil. No finish above the wood surface. I find Tung oil to be a sealer/filler that allows the wood to be the predominent feature while providing stabilization and weather resistance without changing the woods color tone(s). In its native or slightly modified form it is low luster. There are other concoctions available locally that include Tung oil (Formby's, the like) that I have never tried and therefore can not recommend. Waterlox is what I like. It is not widely available except by mail.

Assuming pressure sealing is not used; for sealing mix, as with most other oil sealers, about 3 or better parts mineral spirits to 1 part Tung so as to get it deep. As sealing coats progress Tung thickness can increase but the thinner the first two - three coats the better. Thinner coats should be 1 day between coats. Thick coats should be 2 days between. All final coats two days minimum and out of sunlight for several weeks while the oil cures.
 
I put mine in minwax hardner and sand it to 600g. Then I coat it in thin super glue a few times sanding with 400g in between coats and then buff with white compound. I can't post pics here but I'll email one to you.
Joe
 
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