best finishing for box

Hi
i just joined this forum. I recently built a wooden box with tassie oak and redgum. can anyone give me some suggestions on the finish for this box.

What would you like? An oil type finish that will show the grain but remain relatively flat, a mirror type finish that will shine glossy, a plasticy finish that will sit on top of the wood - any preference. Do you want a quick and easy, like wipe on poly or something built up like shellac or french polish....

Sorry for all the questions but the best start would probably be to decide if you want a glossy look to it or a matt type finish where you can still 'feel' the wood...

Well, if you're still on the forum, I'd sugges you check out the box making section. Most of the pics there include how it was finished. It's a pretty good way to know what different finishes look like on different woods.

Tex

I would like a non-glossy finish, and dries to a hard tough surface, also want to enhance the color of the wood ( tassie oak and redgum)
thanks

Hmm, sounds like a shellac job to me. But, the more shellac coats applied, the more shine you'll get. You could, of course, dull it down as per the instructions in UBeaut's Polisher's Handbook.

An oil finish would also give a matt finish but not as hard a finish as shellac.

You could also use lacquer - matt of course.


As for grain popping, shellac will do that for you. Oil will too, only to a point and I can't say for lacquer as I haven't used it personally.

Another idea is to highlight the grain using a tint and then shellac. (Again, The Polisher's Handbook describes the tinting process quite well, so I've found :) )

Cheers
Wendy