Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Solid maple table
Tara Desmond
Hello all!
A friend of mine has constructed a solid maple tabletop and we are ready to finish it....
I'm not sure what type of product to use! I want to keep the colour as similar as possible to natural wood with a durable finish. Should I use water based finish? Or an oil? Thanks in advance for advice!
Re: Solid maple table
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
You can't keep maple white. The wood itself will go light brown over time. But you can keep it from yellowing. Most, maybe all, oil and nitrocellulose lacquer finishes will yellow upon exposure to light. So, if formulated in a solvent, don't use it.
Acrylics stay white. I just put Minwax acrylic on white ash. Do not know how durable it is.
Re: Solid maple table
Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
I Have had a good experience with General Finshes water-based poly ...
No yellowing to date.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Re: Solid maple table
Don Stephan
BE sure to experiment with any finish on some scrap before moving to the table. Will the finish be sprayed? Brushed? Wiped on? How large is the table top (some finishes need a "wet edge" to avoid lap marks.
Re: Solid maple table
Jim Matthews
I like Watco Danish oil for "brighter" woods.
I apply it over the finished (sanded, scraped or planed) with Mirka Mirlon pads.
Start with the coarsest, allow drying overnight, buff out the next coat with the next finest until you build the desired sheen.
Watco is essentially clear and has lasted 8+ years on my dining table.