Best finish for Macassar Ebony

[Greedo]

Going to make myself a wee veneered Macassar ebony cufflink box and wondering the process to get that really rich, expensive shiny look on it.

Talk to me!!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I used Rustins plastic coating on a box (years ago) and it was fine. I found that varnishes refused to dry on it.

 

[AndyT]

I wonder what piano makers used to use? That ought to be hard wearing and pretty shiny.

 

[Greedo]

I wonder what piano makers used to use? That ought to be hard wearing and pretty shiny.

Do I detect some sarcasm in your answer Andy? I'm no expert in finishes as very rarely go for expensive wood finishes. A non sarcastic answer would therefore be good lol

 

[AndyT]

I wonder what piano makers used to use? That ought to be hard wearing and pretty shiny.

Do I detect some sarcasm in your answer Andy? I'm no expert in finishes as very rarely go for expensive wood finishes. A non sarcastic answer would therefore be good lol

No sarcasm intended at all - just a suggestion of a line of enquiry that might be useful. I'm assuming that when ebony was in more widespread use, there would have been more knowledge of how to finish it.

 

[Greedo]

I wonder what piano makers used to use? That ought to be hard wearing and pretty shiny.

Do I detect some sarcasm in your answer Andy? I'm no expert in finishes as very rarely go for expensive wood finishes. A non sarcastic answer would therefore be good lol

No sarcasm intended at all - just a suggestion of a line of enquiry that might be useful. I'm assuming that when ebony was in more widespread use, there would have been more knowledge of how to finish it.

Cool. I thought being really sarcastic guy myself and being a relative newbie and you being an "old hat" on here you were at the wind up as the answer was obvious lol.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Macassar ebony is the stripey one and Indian ebony is the jet black one (iirc). I don't know if they would finish differently - they might be chemically slightly different.

 

[Greedo]

Macassar ebony is the stripey one and Indian ebony is the jet black one (iirc). I don't know if they would finish differently - they might be chemically slightly different.

Yeah Macassar is the stripey one. My favourite wood.

 

[CHJ]

I would try just finishing to 240-320 grit then Buffing the raw wood through the grades and finishing with Micro-crystalline wax.

 

[flame]

raw linseed oil will give you a very silky smooth finish.