>Hi All, Up to this point most of my bowls were finished with wipe on poly. I could get the sheen I wanted with a final 0000 steel wool and wax and I was pretty happy. The only problem is the yellowing over time of the lighter bowls. I want to keep these light woods light so what finish would you use to prevent this problem? I'm thinking some shellac? How about oils in combination with the Bealle system? Does this turn yellow also? Thanks. Alan in Md.
Over time ANY OIL will darken. Indeed, some woods will darken all on their own without any oil.
Closest things I know of that you'll find in a non-yellowing finish are the acrylic formulations, either lacquers or polyurethanes. Target, Fuhr, and several others make them.
Suggest you post on Jeff Jewitt's forum or ask him directly. You'll find a link for Homestead Finishing in the Links Section.
here's a really dumb question. If you can "get away" with just using the Bealle system to essentially buff and wax the wood, and that is good enough, why bother to finish with multiple layers of oil/lacquer. etc.? Conversely, what are you giving up by not putting on all these finishing products?
Not trying to be argumentative---genuinely want to know.
>On light (or white) woods, buffing with tripoli compound does NOT produce a pleasing effect, especially if the goal is to keep things white/bright. I did this once. Once.
Start with white diamond - probably won't even need to wax. Carnuba wax is yellow.
>There are several reasons why we would put a finish on a piece of wood.
The finish can be used to protect the wood from contact with us, handling damage, skin oils and acids, fingerprints, dirt, etc.
The finish can be used to protect and seal the wood from food acids, water, oils, etc.
The finish is a barrier to the air around it and the airborne dust particles, moisture, acids, microbes, spores, and all things invisible that can change bare wood.
The finish can be used to enhance the grain or the color of the wood.
Or, the finish can be used as a UV inhibitor to slow the natural color change.
The finish can be a barrier to airborne moisture and stabilize the wood by slowing the change in its moisture content from changes in humidity.
All finishes will do these things, and some better than others. The key words are, "for how long". Nothing we put on a piece of wood is forever.
As a finish. wax does many of these things very well, but not for very long. We often use wax because it is fast and easy to apply. Wax is a good sacrificial protection and enhancement for other finishes because pure wax doesn't damage the surface under it, and it is easy to replace.
I'm not asking the question well. If you can have a utilitarian bowl without a finish (and most old bowls, as I think that you and Bill Grumbine have pointed out, have not had a finish), then is the "only" thing that you are giving up the grain and color enhancement, slowing down color change and stabilizing the moisture content, i.e., aesthetic things as opposed to functional improvements?
Again, not trying to be argumentative, just want to understand.
>You are correct in saying that many of the finishes we put on a piece of wood are for esthetic reasons that have nothing to do with the utility of the piece. Since nothing lasts forever, there is a good argument for not putting anything on a piece of wood that will be used. It can also be argued that a finish can be detrimental to the use of the wood. You wouldn't want pieces of lacquer in the celery that was sliced on a cutting board, or flakes of varnish in the salad that was served from a wood bowl.
My favorite finish for figured Maple is no finish at all, just bare polished wood. The wood will turn the same golden amber color, and the grain will be enhanced just as much; but it will take a longer time to get there. Using a finish just makes it all happen faster.
