Is a passable, fool-proof, piano black-like finish possible?

I've made a blind picture frame for my wife's large painting that she is entering in an art competition. The frame is made from Tassie Oak. Anyway, she's decided she would like a glossy black finish. I have previously made her a similar, smaller frame that I stained black and put a heap of coats of WB poly on. It looks OK for the most part, but finishing is my kryptonite and I'm not looking forward to trying to make a much larger frame look good. And I only have two weeks to get it done...

I'm tempted to coat it with filling sanding sealer then hit it with some compatible primer, and black and clear sprays, but I think that gives a cheaper looking finish. At least with the stain/clear you get some hint of the timber underneath. So should I persevere and go the stain/poly route again? Something else? I think I'm most worried about getting the poly down on a larger flat surface without overbrush marks, bubbles, etc.

Help? :C

Does she want a gloss black finish or a stained black gloss finish Rustins Plastic coating can be tinted and polished from flat to a glass like finish

Hi Matt,

On boxes I’ve added a little black Indian Ink (shellac-based, bought at an art store) to U-Beaut hard shellac.
I applied it with a french polishing rubber over a sealing base of several brushed-on coats of shellac.

I find shellac really simple to use, but I’ve never tried it on a picture frame.

Good luck!


Brian