Finish for Padauk

[DaveO]

I am working a piece with Padauk right now. I would like it to keep it's color as much as possible. The stock I have is quartersawn and is stripped with reds, yellow and purples. The last time I used Padauk, on my outfeed table edge banding, I used a Danish Oil finish, and it has since turned a nice dark brown. Any suggestions? Doug at Woodcraft was talking about Polyacylic water based poly, would that help to keep the color or just avoid the ambering of an oil based finish??
Don't worry I'll have pictures later tonight ;-)

Dave

 

[mshel]

Dave,

How about General Finishes Arm R Seal? I am getting ready to apply this to my bench at Monty's recommendation. (tung oil / poly blend)

MIke

 

[DaveO]

That is a thought. I would be worried that it would react similar to the Padauk that I used Danish Oil on (oil/varnish blend) There might not be a solution, the Padauk probably changes color due to either UV exposure or oxidation, and I don't know of a finish that will protect wood from those effects for long.
Dave

 

[DaveO]

Here is an offcut and the color that I would like to keep.

Dave

 

[cskipper]

Nice color in the cut-off - no suggestions about the choice of finishes.

 

[Big Mike]

Dave, there are some polyurethanes with higher levels of UV inhibitors than others. Most of the "spar" varnishes have UV inhibitors. Unfortunately one of the great tragedies with padauk is that no matter what you do it will eventually turn brown....Sorry....:cry:

 

[michaelgarner]

Whacha makin daveO?

 

[DaveO]

Big Mike, I was afraid of that. Do you know what causes it to turn brown? There may be something that can be done to at least delay the color change, like storing it in a closet or air tight chamber :roll: :lol: :lol:

MG - you'll see when it's done :-D

Dave

 

[Big Mike]

Dave, it will eventually oxidize brown but keeping it out of light helps. I have turned some boxes where the outside has turned a mellow brown but the inside still retains some of the beautiful color. Keeping your project and your daughters in a closet are the best advice I can offer.....:rolf:

Dave, the one thing I have learned about all these beautiful woods is that their beauty is fleeting. I have a friend who is an antique buff and also collects boxes which is a good thing for me. He has a 200 year old document box made from birdseye maple. It is a rich brown color on the outside and just slightly lighter on the inside.

By the way I use Helmsman spar varnish on my segmented pieces which have lots of colorful woods. It seems to have the highest level of UV protection I have found. My colors are staying pretty true even the padauk pieces but I have to admit they spend a lot of time in the closet....:eusa_thin I don't have a daughter......:lol:

 

[DaveO]

I was thinking a spar varnish might be my best bet, I'm gonna give that a try, and if it doesn't work, well I'm not too happy with the outcome of the project so far...so we'll chalk it up to a learning experience.
I think fancy wood is a lot like women...the most exotic, expensive and highly ornamental isn't always the best for the long haul:lol: :lol: but they sure are nice to look at.:-D

Dave

 

[McRabbet]

I'm in the process of gluing up some African Mahogany with a very similar ribbon coloration for the counter top for a 9' long wine cellar storage system I'm building. I'm planning to seal with a 1# cut of shellac, grain fill with thinned natural Pore-O-Pac and finishing it with Behlen's Rockhard Tabletop Varnish. If the resulting finish is too glossy for the client, we'll hit it with some light 0000 steel wool. I'll try to start some WIP pics in the near future...

Rob

 

[DavidF]

I am working a piece with Padauk right now. I would like it to keep it's color as much as possible. The stock I have is quartersawn and is stripped with reds, yellow and purples. The last time I used Padauk, on my outfeed table edge banding, I used a Danish Oil finish, and it has since turned a nice dark brown. Any suggestions? Doug at Woodcraft was talking about Polyacylic water based poly, would that help to keep the color or just avoid the ambering of an oil based finish??
Don't worry I'll have pictures later tonight ;-)

Dave

Hi Dave,

I finished the Padauk dmilune table with the water based "ceramithane" that I have mentioned before and that has retained it's colour very well so far even though it does have some exposure to sunlight.

I used the same finish on the maple coffee table and it is remarkable the difference between it and the bowl I turned that sits on top of it, also in maple that was finished with a wiping varnish. The bowl has been steadily turning a rich orange, but the table has stayed the same colour that it started over 18 month ago.

 

[DaveO]

Hi Dave,

I finished the Padauk dmilune table with the water based "ceramithane" that I have mentioned before and that has retained it's colour very well so far even though it does have some exposure to sunlight.

Do you think that I could have a similar effect with a water based poly? I am not set up to spray, so I don't think that I could use than product.

Dave

 

[DavidF]

Do you think that I could have a similar effect with a water based poly? I am not set up to spray, so I don't think that I could use than product.

Dave

Hi Dave, this isn't a spray product, in fact I normally brush or actually it goes on really well with a paint sponge - it is very self levelling.