Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Question of zebrawood finish
ebd
I'd like to finish a zebrawood box & tray with something that brings out the grain/figure without changing the color to yellow/golden. Don't know if that is possible, and an oil finish would be fine, but keeping the browns, tans, and creams (especially the creams) without the yellow shift might be spectacular on the box & matching tray I'm working on.
Waterborne Poly
test finishes
John K Jordan
I like to try different finishes on sample pieces to eliminate the guessing.
Re: Question of zebrawood finish
William Duffield
For a water-borne, absolutely clear finish, use Mohawk Finish/Up. It requires twice as many applications as a varnish finish, maybe 6 to 8 coats. It is simple to apply, no odor, close to the wood. (You could consider it a replacement for shellac. But it is currently very expensive. This recommendation is from Mike Mascelli.
Re: Question of zebrawood finish
JL
Pre- catalyzed lacquer - have you considered it?
It goes on clear (and stays that way).
It is a tougher coating than the waterborne poly (IMO) and the polycryl coating.
Re: test finishes
ebd
Thanks John. That's what I will do. I've got a piece left over from re-saw that is too thin to do anything with. I'll test what I think will work and see if anything leaves the color alone but enhances the figure.
Testing results - it's not possible
ebd
No matter what I put on the wood it takes on a golden color. Even plain water or alcohol or paste wax. Anything. I'm beginning to believe the brown, tan and cream of the raw wood is an artifact and not the true color of the wood.
Anyway, brown, tan, and cream figure on the pink side rather than yellow isn't possible. Thanks for the suggestions.
Re: Testing results - it's not possible
William Duffield
The best way I've found to discover and view temporarily the true, finished, but unstained color of the wood, is to put odorless mineral spirits on it. If you need a colorless solvent that dries faster, use naphtha; if you need one that dries slower, use Gamsol.