Which finishes to use and when?

[Monkey Mark]

As a beginner to the world of Woodworking there is a myriad of information and videos on techniques, tips and how to make things. However I haven't come across much on finishing.

I often watch an instructional video and at the end they'll say something like "and now you should have something like this. To finish it off simply give it three coats of unicorn tears with your flibidy jibid. and buff to a high gloss matt shine". You get what I mean anyway.
But half the finishes that are mentioned I know nothing about and those which I do know of I'm not always sure when they should be used. As a result I've stuck mainly to the likes of linseed oil etc.

So, having said all of that. Can anyone recommend a good site/YouTube video/book that could help me on this subject?

Thanks Mark

 

[AndyT]

This is such a sensible question that it comes up quite often.
Have a look at this thread which has some thoughtful answers

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/topic84202.html

 

[marcros]

the Jeff Jowett book is very good.

I would restrict your range of finishes as much as possible. Many amateurs have a range of a dozen different oils slowly going off on their shelves, whereas the pros tend to stick to a much smaller range of finishes.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

One of the problems with 'finishing' is that there's such a huge variety of methods old and new, and proprietary variants of basic finishes that confusion sets in very fast. It certainly does for me if I start really thinking about it.

Nowadays I try to keep it very simple by asking myself what conditions the item is likely to meet. If it's going to cosseted, it usually gets a couple of light coats of sanding sealer then wax. If it's 'normal use' furniture, brushing French polish, which is a form of easy-apply shellac polish. If it needs a bomb-proof coat, then polyurethane varnish (I like yacht varnish) lightly cut back to kill the excessive glossiness, then maybe wax (I refinished my dining table top this way after the original plain wax finish became too degraded, and it's worked well - hot plates and minor liquid spills are not really a problem to it). For tool handles, benches and the like, Danish oil wiped (not brushed) on. I don't go near bleaches, stains or the many 'proper' traditional techniques - I leave those to the pros.

However - everybody else will have different experiences and preferences.

I think it's worth a bit of reading around about the various 'traditional' finishes and their modern equivalents (proper French polishing with a rubber, and the more modern brushing polish for example), and maybe even trying a few on samples of timber to see what it does to colour, figuring and coating thickness. Once you have an idea about the capacity of each type of finish to resist wear and tear, it's visual effect on the wood, and the work needed to apply it, choices sometimes make themselves. It's worth sticking to just two or three, because stock and application equipment problems can multiply if you don't!

 

[jamesevenlode]

I found this very helpful:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tauntons-Comple ... 1561585920

 

[xy mosian]

I completely agree with Cheshirechappie.

These chairs were finished, after staining, by using a brushed shellac finish, and then waxed. The brushed shellac finish is basically shellac sanding sealer. After finding part pots of sealer un-useable I started buying shellac flakes and dissolving them in Meths as required. The mix for sealer, and brushing, is about six parts meths to one part flakes, by weight, and for a rubbed finish it is about four to one. A great bonus with shellac finishes is the quick drying time.

HTH.
xy

 

[marcros]

I found this very helpful:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tauntons-Comple ... 1561585920

that is the one that I meant!

 

[custard]

These chairs were finished, after staining, by using a brushed shellac finish, and then waxed.

Very nice job, the saddling is a credit to you and your choice of finish has really delivered.

Best thing of all though is that you made two. Lots of woodworkers might have a go at making one, but making two (and keeping them respectably similar) deserves some applause!

=D>

 

[xy mosian]

These chairs were finished, after staining, by using a brushed shellac finish, and then waxed.

Very nice job, the saddling is a credit to you and your choice of finish has really delivered.

Best thing of all though is that you made two. Lots of woodworkers might have a go at making one, but making two (and keeping them respectably similar) deserves some applause!

=D>

Thank you custard, that means a great deal. Mostly done by hand, two because after one I probably would not have made a second.

Back to the finish. For me shellac finishes mean easily applied extra coats, if needed, no special equipment and a high tolerance to bits of dust flying about.
xy