advice on finish for American Walnut

[riclepp]

Hi All

I am about to embark on building a cd cabinet for our music cd's and am at a stage where I have everything I need to do the build, but not the finish. I mainly make items out of Oak, so that is not a problem for finishing (Grain filler, sand, sanding sealer, sand, hard wax oil, sand, light wax polish, sand and then finish, on the final sands I go down to 500g, yes excessive, but it floats my bubble). So my question what is best for a finish for Walnut. ?

Many thanks in advance for any replies

 

[marcros]

My favourite for Walnut and American Black Walnut is tru-oil. The wood seems to benefit from grain filling but I wouldnt seal it, I wet sanded it in last time and it was nice and smooth.

They seem to set a good finish on gun stocks, which it was designed for. I have also used a coat of oil to "pop" the grain, followed by hard wax oil, and it worked well.

 

[yetloh]

Given that a CD rack isn't likely to suffr from damp or tea spillages I would go with shellac - quick and easy to apply a few coats and you can cut it back and burnish to any level of sheen you want. Whatever you do avoid water borne finishes on walnut.they look cold and insipid.

Jim

 

[heatherw]

I don't know about tru-oil, but danish oil and linseed oil react with the walnut to make it a darker, more intense colour, particularly noticeable on american black walnut. This may or may not be your desire! You can put another finish on top after the oil has cured.

 

[marcros]

I don't know about tru-oil, but danish oil and linseed oil react with the walnut to make it a darker, more intense colour, particularly noticeable on american black walnut. This may or may not be your desire! You can put another finish on top after the oil has cured.

Much the same effect. I find that tru oil feels thinner- rightly or wrongly. You can build a few coats, but it doesn't feel like there is any additional thickness.

 

[riclepp]

Thanks to you all for your suggestions, time to experiment with the advise.

Merry Christmas all

 

[andersonec]

If you want to keep the grain as it is then get a can of spray lacquer, cellulose or acrylic, sand to whatever grit you fancy, hoover all the dust off and let all dust settle overnight before spraying, cut back with 0000 wire wool or abrasive of your choice and repeat spray coats till you get the sheen required, 4 coats is usually good, gives a deep rich finish. A sealer is optional.

Andy