Finishing Huon Pine table

So I found an old slab of wood 70cm x 55cm x 6cm, passed from my Grandfather to my Father sitting in his shed. My father wanted to make a swing seat but I grabbed it to mess around with.

I started cleaning it up and this wonderful sweet smell came out, I had to keep grabbing deep breaths of it. The colour is cream and turns a bit golden day by day. After asking my Mother she thinks she bought it for my Grandfather some years ago in Tassie and thinks it's Huon pine.

I'm getting to the finishing stage of making it into the top of a side table. I need to protect it from coffee cups and whiskey so was planning on varnish, but I also love the natural colours and smell. Is there a better way to finish it? My ideal would be an extremely fine sanding, but then it would mark.

Also what can I do with the shavings?

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It is a bit of a conundrum. If you varnish or lacquer it you will protect it from coffee and whisky but the smell will be sealed in. Perhaps some sort of oil is the go. I have a 4 poster huon pine bed that had several coats of danish oil put on it when it was made 25 years ago. It still exudes the lovely huon fragrance through the oil. You may want to use a harder wearing oil to cope with the drinks.
If you end up using varnish beware of single pack stuff like estapol because it does not always (well hardly ever) work on huon. A 2 pack finish is better.

can't they use coasters?

Left uncovered the nice smell will go away after a while. I have a couple of small bits waiting to be turned. Had a nice smell at first but now you would need to take a swipe with a plane to get at the huon pine smell. You may as well give it a protective coat of something to keep it looking good. As artful bodger said danish oil is good.
The shavings will keep the moths and silverfish at bay in the wardrobe or drawers. Sewn into small cloth bags.
Regards
John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by artful bodger

You may want to use a harder wearing oil.
If you end up using varnish beware of single pack stuff like estapol because it does not always (well hardly ever) work on huon. A 2 pack finish is better.

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Thanks Artful, I'm leaning towards the varnish at this stage.

I have a tin of British Paints water based varnish... so this is bad? Is it the oils in the pine??

Also a 2 part epoxy Feast Watson Glass Finish - claims to be equal to 60 layers of varnish. It looks like it spreads like thick syrup, makes me VERY nervous as I expect it to form drips.

Should I look at additional varnishes?

Thanks for your help.

Yes it is the oil in the pine that upsets most single pack brush on type varnishes/estapols.
If you have a spray gun there are single pack lacquers that will do the job ok.
Wattyl used to make a 2 pack finish that you could buy in hardware stores that worked all right on huon, however it was a gloss finish (not everyones cup of tea) and smelt so strong during use that it would make your eyes water and nasal passages melt. It requires the correct thinner as well.
If the table is a hall table you might get away with an oil finish. Especially if you don't drink whisky and coffee in the hall. I have heard of people on this forum use oil finishes for bathroom vanities and kitchen bench tops which sounds like madness to me but the right type of oil may just be out there waiting for you. Some one will probably chime in.
If you do decide to varnish the top to protect it, you could always drill a bunch of holes in the underside afterwards to let the huon smell waft out.
Good luck.

I have used danish oil on a set of side tables and a coffee table that all get used for coffee and the odd drink. Have lasted quite a few years and still looking OK. Same goes for a fireplace mantle shelf thats lasted a good 10 years with the the odd cup or wine glass being in contact. The great thing about oil finishes is the ease of repair if it gets a scrape or mark. I will point out they are all harder woods than Huon but I think danish oil would do for reasonable home use in your situation. 2 pak will be harder wearing but to my eye does not look as good. Many years ago I used 2 pak floor varnish to refurbish a dining table. Survived 3 growing kids and all they could do to it.
Regards
John