which finish is best?

Hi Everyone.

I am making a shelf out of, (what I believe) is ironbark. While milling the slab, I have noticed this wood splinters really easily.

With this in mind, I am looking for suggestions as to how to best finish it, so it will not split or splinter later on. I am looking at the option of using Rubio monocoat oil, probably the simplest, but I don't think it will prevent the splintering.

Another option could be to use a varnish, my preference would be a water based varnish, similar to Cabot's Cabothane Clear. Hopefully this will seal the wood and prevent the splintering.

The idea is to sand to 240 or maybe even 400 before the final finish is applied.


Attachment 529650

Thanks

"I am making a shelf out of, (what I believe) is ironbark. While milling the slab, I have noticed this wood splinters really easily."

Not sure that is Ironbark, but you have a lot of sapwood so it's difficult to tell, the Ironbark I use is quite close grained and doesn't really splinter (more than any other gum)

Where is the shelf for? Have you considered epoxy resin, once that is set you shouldn't get any splinters

thanks for the response, shelf will be in th lounge room, more of a mantle than a shelf, I guess. Epoxy resin is an option but not top of the list

Any decent finish will seal it. The rubio is ungodly expensive for what it is and would likely not wear as well as an acrylic top coat like the cabot product you mention.

Cabothane WB that you mentioned literally has nothing on the SDS that has to be reported. Rubio's second part is a component crosslinker used in polyurethane manufacturing that is highly sensitizing (diisocyanate). In the US, it gets a #4 for health regarding touch toxicity (the highest/worst labeling you can get on an SDS). should never be applied without gloves, but shouldn't be an inhalation threat if it's wiped/brushed on.

awesome info, thanks