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African Blackwood Finish

Joined
Dec 21, 2017
Messages
36
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216
Location
Venice, Florida
Finiished an Ornamental Turning using African Blackwood. Beautiful wood with a lovely shine. Does anyone use a finish on this type of wood or maybe just a buff? Thought of Lacquer, but don't want to loose the current nice look of the wood. Looking for some tips
 
FWIW the fins and finials on this piece are african blackwood with airbrushed lacquer. Click it to see more higher-res photos in comments. I did wipe the blackwood with alcohol first to try to cut some of the surface oils. Honestly, I don't think the finish is necessary but not worth trying to mask on a piece like this.

 
I often make African Blackwood gavels and sand them to 1200 grit then buff with Vonax and finish with a mop loaded with carnauba wax. The wood is shiny before you start and just gleams after. It’s not a finish as such but the wood itself shines so lasts very well

Richard
 

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