Protecting red cedar from UV fading

[Lou Jacobs]

A week ago I posted this Atlantic red cedar hollow form in the gallery.

@RichColvin asked “How do you keep the colors vibrant over time?”

I answered that I thought a finish like marine spar varnish with high UV filters in it would work, although I had in fact finished it with Doctors’ Woodshop finish and a Beall Buff with carnauba wax. I then said to myself, why not put your money where your mouth is, so I stripped the wax finish off with mineral spirits and applied four coats of Epifanes clear gloss spar varnish with “extra UV-filter.” First coat thinned about 30% with mineral spirits, second coat about 10%, and last two coats full strength. I’ve also got a bowl I made at the same time that I left with the original finish. I’ll watch over time and see if there is a significant difference in color change.

 

[Richard Coers]

Put it directly in front of a south window to test it. You should know in a month.

 

[hughie]

The only product that I know is Lignostab, its only available in commercial quantities and not available done under

 

[john lucas]

I did a rest a bunch of years ago on all the products I could find that have uv protectors. I put the woid in direct sunlight. I had samples in indirect light as well. All of the wood changed color dramatically in justv3 days. The only product that worked at all was Spar varnish and it is a dark orange color and we would never use that. Tha sample left in indirect light didn't change color after a year.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

The only product that worked at all was Spar varnish

John, do you recall how many coats of varnish you used?

 

[john lucas]

No it's been too long. Pretty sure on tge soar varnish it was one thick coat. It only gave 2 more days of direct summer sun to fade. Most of the other finishes I tried I followed my Normal procedures which was 3 ir 4 coats for oil based and 2 or so of lacquer.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Pretty sure on tge soar varnish it was one thick coat

Thanks John. I’ve put four coats on this hollow form. The manufacturer (Epifanes) actually recommends up to 7 coats including a first couple of base coats applied thinned to allow absorption into the wood. They say that the goal is mils (thicker the coat, the more UV protection). I realize it’s a trade off between fading and color shift through a thick coating. I usually disdain high gloss finishes, but in the case of this cedar I’m eager to experiment and see if I can keep some of the desirable red. Time will tell.