Waterlox on cottonwood?h

[Bob Strand]

Having to use six and more coats to get a nice lustre. Is this right?

 

[hockenbery]

Having to use six and more coats to get a nice lustre. Is this right?

It could be about right. I usually do at least four coats on most pieces. The buff with the Beal system.
We don't have cottonwood here but I have an impression that it is a bit soft an porous so the finish will build up more slowly.

Using a thin shellac as a sealer lets the waterlox build up faster.

I also have been using odes oil on small bowls after 1 or two coats of waterlox.
The odes gives a soft luster.

Waterlox is my favorite finish unless I want to keep white wood white.
Waterlox gives a slight Amber cast to the wood but it colors the wood much less than most tung oil based products.

Al

 

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

Cottonwood

Cottonwood is a very soft, very porous wood that sucks in finishes like A sponge. It is difficult to cut cleanly and difficult to get a good finish. I have stopped using it, I don't feel it's worth the effort.

 

[Gretch Flo]

Cottonwood is a very soft, very porous wood that sucks in finishes like A sponge. It is difficult to cut cleanly and difficult to get a good finish. I have stopped using it, I don't feel it's worth the effort.

I has tremendous crotch figure, that dyes soooo well, Yes hard to finish. I use 3+ coats of 1# sanding sealer after the dye, then 1-4 coats of danish oil til amount of shine I want.
I just finished a smallish poplar (similar to cottonwood) that a friend grabbed from her neighbor for me. Will try to post. Gretch

 

[Bob Strand]

I has tremendous crotch figure, that dyes soooo well, Yes hard to finish. I use 3+ coats of 1# sanding sealer after the dye, then 1-4 coats of danish oil til amount of shine I want.
I just finished a smallish poplar (similar to cottonwood) that a friend grabbed from her neighbor for me. Will try to post. Gretch


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Thanks for the info on cottonwood. I've been frustrated at my turning technique and/or sharpening that I can't get a good finish on some cottonwood
pieces but I see it may not be totally on me.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I has tremendous crotch figure, that dyes soooo well, Yes hard to finish. I use 3+ coats of 1# sanding sealer after the dye, then 1-4 coats of danish oil til amount of shine I want.
I just finished a smallish poplar (similar to cottonwood) that a friend grabbed from her neighbor for me. Will try to post. Gretch


View attachment 8972View attachment 8973

Off the subject, but have you noticed in your dye work that in plain woods (I include Bradford Pear) it will bring out the figure?

 

[Gretch Flo]

Off the subject, but have you noticed in your dye work that in plain woods (I include Bradford Pear) it will bring out the figure?
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Plain woods without figure ( crotch, tiger, curly, knots, birdseye etc)when dyed are just well.... plain dyed woods!!!!! I only do it to bring out the contrast. Gretch