Finish on different projects - Expand my experience

I have not done a lot of projects but the ones I have done, I have mostly finished with a Satin Cabothane. Mostly over a stain. Once over raw timber. I have always been happy with this in general terms.

I would like to get experience in different finishes.

I have currently one project ready to finish and another one in mind.
1 Draws (pine) under a work bench and timber trim (Tas Oak) to home built saw table top
2 Lazy Susan with a possible inlay on it (plan to use some sort of timber of what I think is pine)

I guess the workshop items would be best in something with a bit of hardness. I do have some Traditional Wax and was thinking about that but after research I am starting to go away from that. However, I don't know what way to go.

The timber I plan to use for the LS is re-cycled from an old table top I picked up some 20 years ago from a furniture manufacturer that was closing down. It has some type of finish on it from when I picked it up - but when you get it back to raw, is is quite light - near white. I originally used some of it on chairs as slats for the seats. I put a polyurathane on the slats but they went quite honey colored within a short time. I would like to retain as much of the lighter colour as possible and not have it go honey coloured. I don't know even know if that is possible.

Must have been a good tree as the 2 pieces I have left are about 400 & 500 wide both solid. Wish I knew what type of timber it is!

Would appreciate some options/recommendations on finishes from you more experienced people.

Thanks

I use OSMO oil wax finish almost exclusively now. Expensive, but goes a loooong way, think 24+ square metres a litre. Easy to apply. Just keep brushing it out, you want to apply a very thin coat. Resistant to acids, alkalis, alcohol, etc. I highly recommend it.

Where about in Brisbane are you? I could show you products coated with it, and maybe give you a sample.

No affiliation with the product, except that I am a happy customer.

Cheers
Bevan

Thanks Bevan
It looks like maybe a type of wipeon Poly. It does not give a distributor for Qld on their web site. Do you feel it holds original timber color well?
I am in sth east - Alex Hills
Harry

A poly it ain't. Richard Vaughan did a write up in the latest Aust Wood Review of the OSMO product. The distributor is in Melbourne and will post as the product is not a dangerous good. I reckon you end up with just the "wet" look of the timber, remember, all finishes will alter the colour of dry wood.

I'm in Wavell Heights

There are a zillion finishes out there and each has its adherents and different strengths.

Factors to consider are whether you want a floss, satin or matt finish and will the item will be in the weather or the sun (in which case UV protection is needed) or fully indoors. Do you want a once-off never to be recoated hard finish? Are you happy to re-coat regularly? Hard wearing surfaces like floors have many speciality products from gloss two-packs to Tung oil. They all do the job, but differently.

I started out repairing/restoring Australian antiques and the finishes that have a proven track record (100's of years) include shellac. UBeaut make a white shellac that adds very little colour for something like your Lazy Susan. Their Hard Shellac provides a water resistant and food safe finish. Check their web site (forum sponsor/owner links). You can achieve a satin or gloss finish depending on the number of coats.

Ease of use and ease of clean-up are other considerations for you. When clients did not want shellac or I didn't have the time to French Polish I have used a very clear satin, water clean-up Estapol with success for dining tables and bookshelves in very light coloured Hoop Pine. No discoloration, easy to use and clean up.

Thanks all

I put straight Traditional Wax on some pine draws. I will see how that goes over time. Now to decide what other finishes to try.

Osmo also has a new product I'm about to try out called "Osmo Polyx Raw", which supposedly has an "almost invisible" finish..

Thanks Ben. Another to consider.

To maintain the 'whiteness" of the timber and reduceaging honey tones I recommend penetrating oils with a white pigment. The LivosKunos in a white pigment gives amazing results. The white pigments are absorbed into the grain highlighting them rather than a painted or heavy white paintlike finish that sits on top and would hide them.