Spalted Elm FInish?

[Alie Barnes]

Working on a very dry piece of spalted Elm. Any suggestions for the best finish to go with? or the best way to finish it in generel actually?

thanks

 

[TEP]

Hi Alie, Elm, for me it's got to be an oil finish, gloss or silk, but oil. :roll:

 

[Jenx]

Not that I'm very experienced Alie.. but did a Platter in elm not long ago and finished that with Liberon Finishing Oil.

Quite glossy, but it suited the piece. ( had 4 or 5 coats if I recall )

Wouldn't have considered waxing it or anything else... it was screaming out 'oil me, oil me'.

HTH you make a decision :wink: 8)

Have just started using George ( and now Chas' too ) recommended Lemon Oil. Just about to 'final coat' a sycamore platter with it... its got a fantastic matt sheen to it, as George foretold ! ... But by god, I HATE the smell... its like having 25 Paraffin heaters in the house. :lol: :lol:
Its really 'hooting' on the stink front... but worth it for the finish.. lovely stuff.
Maybe an option ?

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

[paulm]

Might depend partly on what the piece is and the useage it might get, and whether you tend to prefer matt or gloss finishes yourself ?

Cheers, Paul

 

[cornucopia]

But by god, I HATE the smell... its like having 25 Paraffin heaters in the house. :lol: :lol:
Its really 'hooting' on the stink front... but worth it for the finish.. lovely stuff.
Maybe an option ?

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

:lol: :lol: I quite like it!!! just remember lemon oil needs topping up every 6 -12 months
i like to finish elm with one coat of lemon oil followed by two coats of organoil hard burnishing- lovely satin finish

 

[Alie Barnes]

Well ive raided the oils cupboard and its pretty bare!

I have some finishing oil and danish oil.

I might try danish and see what it comes up like.

will have to invest in some different oils and finishes.

i would have been ok but i was so keen to work this bit of elm that i didnt thinka bout finish till half way through.

 

[Lightweeder]

George - this is yet another which sounds good "organoil hard burnishing". Would you advise general use of this one ?

 

[cornucopia]

George - this is yet another which sounds good "organoil hard burnishing". Would you advise general use of this one ?

hello- i use it allot all of my recent work has been treated with it- hegner u.k stock it.

 

[CHJ]

Oil it would be for me too, I generally use Chestnuts finishing oil, oils seem to enhance the grain characteristics, slight swelling of the fibres perhaps, gloss level depends on number of coats and associated 'varnish' build effect together with burnishing method.

 

[CHJ]

...Have just started using .... Lemon Oil. ..... But by god, I HATE the smell... its like having 25 Paraffin heaters in the house. :lol: :lol:
Its really 'hooting' on the stink front... but worth it for the finish.. lovely stuff.

Take care Jenx if it is in a confined space with the family until the bulk of the volatiles have dissipated, I believe the carrier is White Spirit (processed Naptha) and care should be taken.

 

[Jenx]

Will do, Chas ! thanks for the 'nod' on that one ! :wink:

Its a wild smell ! George Likes it ....
I find it quite 'pungent' ....

And Its still not smelling anything like a lemon, 4 coats in ! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[boysie39]

I use Liqued Pariffin on Elm, and most other timbers as well
No smell and it tastes alright too.

 

[Steve Blackdog]

I use Liqued Pariffin on Elm, and most other timbers as well
No smell and it tastes alright too.

+1 for paraffin.

I finished a nice little elm bowl in sunflower oil recently with a little beeswax on top. If looked smashing.

 

[Jonzjob]

I've just made this replica-ish for our neighbour and because I couldn't get a lump the correct size the village ebenist (cabinate maker) sorted 4 bits joined for me. Hardwood is not easy to come by here from what I have seen.

Elm, sanded from 180 to 400, 0000steel wool and burnished with shavings. 1 coat of celulose sanding sealer and 2 coats of melamine laquer, then buffed through the 3 wheels on my Beal buffing kit. Don't look to bad to me, plus no redoing after 6 months. If I had wanted a silk finish then it would have gone back on the lathe for a quick scrub down with the 0000.

The one on the right is an irreplaceble piece of Limoge porclain :shock: :shock: :shock: I weren't arf careful in the workshop!