Finish to resist red wine ?

[OldWood]

The first hesitation was whether I wrote this to the Finishes forum, or here - on the basis that bottle coasters and trays are turned was reason enough to be here and other turners must have faced this problem.

I'm very much a newbie, and managed to make an acceptable small platter out of a piece of spalted beech (embarrassment - I've so much I use it for learning on!).

I sealed it with sanding sealer - two coats and then waxed it. It wasn't actually a full bottle coaster but a bottle of red wine was placed on it and dripped. The stain went through the finish.

Have I used the wrong finish to resist wine, or did I just not apply enough finish ?

Thanks
Rob

 

[katellwood]

I've always had trouble resisting red wine

 

[Bodrighy]

I cheat. If I know goblet is going to be used for red wine I use a dark wood or stain it dark then put copious amounts of melamine lacquer on the inside. It still stains but isn't noticeable. I'm afraid red wine makes an excellent if expensive stain for most woods irregardless of the finish you use.

pete

 

[jpt]

The only finish I have found that resists red wine is Rustins plastic coating, but as its name implies it makes the piece look and feel plastic.

What I do with bottle stands now is supply them with a piece of cork for the bottle to stand on.

john

 

[OldWood]

Many thanks, guys - this just goes to show that magazine designs need to be taken with a slight pinch of salt ! Or at least, are built for their looks rather than their application.

I've a nice design for a bottle coaster and fancy doing a pair, one in a dark wood for the red wines and one in a light wood for white, but it looks as if some experimenting with the finish may be necessary.

I have done a rub finish before now using a shellac / polyurethane mix, which preserves the look of the wood well and is water resistant. It looks as if it might be worth while re-investigating that - it was 15 years ago and I doubt I've kept a record.

Rob

 

[Bodrighy]

I suppose it soes depend on what you are going to make. With a goblet you might get away with the plasticote on the inside but I agree it looks awful on the outside...artificial. Wioth coasters you could put cork or a small tile in there but you still run the risk of dripping on the edge. I would stick with the darker woods, mahogany, is pretty good as long as you give it a bit of a stain first to darken it. Soft woods will soak up the wine more as well.

pete