Dead flat matt clear finish advice please

[AJB Temple]

I am looking to finish a 2m by 1m Honduran mahogany table top. The idea is for it to look dead flat, no colouration of the wood if possible, and capable of being sanded off if I want to in the future (so no / very minimal soaking in). I am aiming for a bare wood look, but that will resist liquid spillages.

Advise me please,

Thanks, AJ

 

[Distinterior]

Osmo Raw perhaps....?

I used some on a couple of Oak picture frames I made recently. There was virtually no change in the colour of the finished wood compared with the unfinished wood. Resistant to spillages as well so suitable for a table.

https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pr ... 8EQAvD_BwE

 

[mrpercysnodgrass]

One thing to keep in mind with any matt or dead matt finish is if the object is subject to handling it will become shiny. So in the case of Distinterior's oak picture frames, they will remain matt but a table top will become shiny in patches where it has forearms and elbows rubbing the surface.

 

[ED65]

Matt water-bourne poly ticks the boxes, I hesitate to say it's the usual choice for the no-finish or barely-finished look but it's certainly a very common one. A better one will provide decent protection from water, enough that you don't need coasters, but staining from tomato sauce, coffee, tea and red wine can still be issues.

I presume you'll know this already but in case not, staining is inherently more of a problem with a matt finish than with gloss because of the microscopic texture, irrespective of the material. So you may want to treat it as a "coaster finish" regardless.

 

[custard]

Water based poly varnish is much more susceptible to staining than Osmo PolyX. It also tends to be quite soft so will burnish up to a gloss before too long.

Osmo Raw may well be you best bet. But don't guess, Osmo sell small sample sachets for not much money, so test first on some scrap and be sure.

Incidentally, over the years I've posted loads of photos showing these finishes on different timbers, search and you may find something useful.

 

[ED65]

Ta-da!

 

[Zeddedhed]

If you want to try the Osmo raw I've got tin on the go. You're more than welcome to pop over and grab a bit. (bring a container)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

100,000s of Kiwis use water based based PU on their floors, so it can't all be soft.

 

[AJB Temple]

Thanks guys. And thanks for offer Zed. Might take you up on that. I might just check if Amazon do small tins on next day.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/br ... f2fb2ef9fe

Do sachets of the different ones.

 

[AJB Temple]

As advice here is usually spot on, I have bought a small tin of Osmo raw from Amazon. This is £9 and will be enough for 2 or 3 coats. If I like it I will also use it on my numerous new oak doors.

Zed - very kind offer. Much appreciated. Happy to pop round for a cuppa but I won't scrounge finish off you. Might get your advice on replacing my cr*p PT.

 

[AJB Temple]

To close this off I did a final sand and finished with Osmo raw as recommended. a 125ml tin was enough for two thin coats. For those who are unfamiliar it looks white in the tin and must be applied thinly. I used a 1" brush, but only because the tin is tiny! It is surprisingly hard to brush out. With a thin brush coat on the top, applied as evenly as possible with the grain and I then wiped off with a clean microfibre cloth. When dry lightly rubbed over with a nylon pad, recoated, wiped dried and rubbed again.

It does look and feel close to natural wood, but has provided the protective layer I needed. There is a very slight whiteness to it. Will try to post a picture when I locate my phone.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I suspect the different Osmos have different characteristics - I did a house sign for my neighbour with the UV resistant exterior one and it was very different to using PolyX. Horrible stuff ......... time will tell how good or bad it is.

 

[AJB Temple]

Photos of the finished dirt cheap table and a (not very good) photo of the grain. Very slightly white. But nowhere near like old style liming. I was pleased with the result. I did of course want to be able to strip it again with little hassle and a test on some scrap showed that is easy enough.