Wood Turning

[Marlen at WOOD]

I have 20 bottle opener handles, 6 pizza cutter handles, and 6 cheese plane handles to turn for Christmas gifts. I normally apply 4 or 5 coats Minwax Antique Oil Finish to each of my turnings. But, with the number of handles I have to turn, I need a finish that builds up faster with few coats. I prefer to stay away from lacquers. Your suggestions? Marlen @ WOOD

[Utah Ken]

I use BLO/CA for high shine and hard finish, its fast and easy to do.

Ken

[fgvanatta]

Three coats of Seal Coat Shellac cut half and half with alcohol to make a 1 lb. cut - sanding sealer, really.  Let each coat dry for 30 minutes then smooth out with white non-abrasive pad.  If you want to pop the grain out, put on a light coat of oil (I use plain mineral oil) first and then wipe it off with a paper towel and the lathe turning.  The oil can actually be applied before or after the shellac or in between coats and still be effective.  If you want a deeper shine, just keep putting on more coats until you get what you want.  

[jsnist]

I finish handles with EEE cream followed by Behlan's Woodturner's finish.  I can do a couple coats of Behlan's in just a couple minutes.  Wipe on, crank up the speed and use the heat to bring it up to a nice high shine...do it again for a second coat and you're done!

Jeff

[- Cork-]

I give my handles a coat of BLO dry 24 hrs.  Then I go with 3 coats of gloss poly.  Not a very exciting method but virtually waterproof.

Cork

[Marlen at WOOD]

Jeff, I am unfamiliar with EEE cream. Can you tell me more about it? Cutting my finishing time down is important as I have to move a lot of project on and off the lathe in the next few weeks. Marlen

[fgvanatta]

EEE Ultra Shine and Shellawax info: http://www.woodworkersguide.com/2008/05/12/u-beaut-shellawax-and-ultrashine-polish/

[jsnist]

thanks for posting that link fgvanatta!  The EEE Ultra shine is the stuff to which I was referring!!  I believe its a shellac based cream with a very fine abrasive and a wax all in one.  Really makes the wood look great prior to putting on the woodturner's finish.  I actually came across this method in Barry Gross' book Learn to Turn.  Very quick, and easy...

Good luck Marlen, can't wait to see how the handles come out!!

Jeff

[Beaver Creek Woodworks]

William Young's CA/BLO is the best I have found.  Quick as a wink and a hard finish.

[demardist86]

Please explain. What is BLO. Marvin