Hi all,
I've always had a problem with satin finishes. Currently, I'm working on a harpsichord that will have walnut keys instead of my usual ebony. I've never really cared for finish materials that have flattening agents to kill the gloss as they always look cloudy to me. On the other hand, using a gloss finish and rubbing with steel wool seems to do the same thing. The colors in the wood seem to lose all of their vibrancy. I need to have a certain level of protection on a keyboard due to the oily nature of people's fingers on the keys - but I really don't like keys finished with poly or anything else that will make them look like a row of plastic party spoons.
So here's what I'm looking for:
1. A finish and/or procedure that will make the wood look like wood (but not dead flat)
2. A way to keep the vibrancy of the colors without keeping the gloss.
3. Something that will afford some protection against oily hands.
I should mention that sanding is not an option (or at least not much of it) as the keys are hand shaped and the scored lines must remain crisp. Here's a photo of a few sample keys. They were darkened with a coat of dark walnut Watco Danish Oil and have one coat of Formby's Tung Oil Satin.
Any ideas?
Ernie
I've always had a problem with satin finishes. Currently, I'm working on a harpsichord that will have walnut keys instead of my usual ebony. I've never really cared for finish materials that have flattening agents to kill the gloss as they always look cloudy to me. On the other hand, using a gloss finish and rubbing with steel wool seems to do the same thing. The colors in the wood seem to lose all of their vibrancy. I need to have a certain level of protection on a keyboard due to the oily nature of people's fingers on the keys - but I really don't like keys finished with poly or anything else that will make them look like a row of plastic party spoons.
So here's what I'm looking for:
1. A finish and/or procedure that will make the wood look like wood (but not dead flat)
2. A way to keep the vibrancy of the colors without keeping the gloss.
3. Something that will afford some protection against oily hands.
I should mention that sanding is not an option (or at least not much of it) as the keys are hand shaped and the scored lines must remain crisp. Here's a photo of a few sample keys. They were darkened with a coat of dark walnut Watco Danish Oil and have one coat of Formby's Tung Oil Satin.
Any ideas?
Ernie