Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Finish for chestnut?
Scott in Douglassville, PA
>Hey, everyone -
I'm getting ready to finish a couple chestnut table tops. Having never worked with chestnut before, I'm open to suggestions. I tried oiling and wet sanding some scrap, and it's smooth and purty, but isn't substantially darker than the raw (planed and scraped) wood. Will the chestnut darken over time? Suggestions for finishes and topcoats would be warmly received...
Thanks,
Scott
Re: Finish for chestnut?
R.J.Whelan
>Scott ... yes, chestnut does darken with age.
It finishes very much like ash.
I've done a few pieces and used the following formula: 1 part varnish, 1 part BLO, 1 part raw tung oil (Sam Maloof's formula) - they were in a sunny location and darkened nicely over a period of a couple of years.
rj
What varnish do you prefer?
Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida
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Re: What varnish do you prefer?
R.J.Whelan
>Don ... I'm not sure of the manufacturer; I buy it from a bulk container (gray 5-gal can with no marking) at a local supplier. I told the owner I need pure, unadulterated varnish and he told me he buys it for a local painter for use on interior woodwork - I happen to know the painter and he's the fussiest guy (except me) I've met in a while, so I think this is pretty good stuff. I'll see if I can get the name of the manufacturer tomorrow ... rj