Blotchy finish with Shellawax

Hello all,

A newbie here :rolleyes:

I recently finished a bowl with Shellawax Cream and was very pleased with the outcome. However yesterday when I was showing the bowl to a friend I noticed in a certain light that the bowl was covered in blotches.

You literally can not see them unless to look in one particular direction. :(

I have two questions:

1. What did I do wrong to get this finish ? (I don't want to do it again)
2. How do I fix it ?

I've seen at the wood expos Shellawax being demonstrated and the demonstrator put in on for a great finish and then took it off again so he could repeat the process. I've been look for the instructions for removing Shellawax but can't find anything. Can anyone help ? or is there a different better fix ?

All comments and help most appreciated,

Regards,
G.O.Varney (pronounced G.O.Varney as in Giovanni :U)

My first thoughts are that you did not apply even pressure when applying or you did not sand the bowl enough.

Hopefully you can remount the bowl and reapply some more Shellawax and work it in.

If you can't remount it then you have to use a power buff (Swansdown) and buff it.

OR....... It could be the timber itself as some timbers will not come up well with Shellawax.

To start again all you have to do is start at about 120 # and work your way through the grits agan.

1: What timber did you use?
2: what grit did you 'sand' to?
3: what diameter was the bowl?
4: how much Shellawax did you use?

is correct but there are variables too.

If it was the melbourne wood show it may have been me who demonstrated the finish...

Gidday,

Timber used: American Rock Maple
Grit Sanded: 150 -> 180 -> 240 -> 320 -> 400 -> 800 -> 1200 -> EEE
Bowl Diameter: 205mm
Amount used: A considerable amount I guess. Dipped a rag a couple of times and rubbed it in. Difficult to know. I guess you are suggesting I've used to much.

Yes, The demo was in Melbourne. :D

I can remount the bowl.

G.O.Varney

AHA! Rock Maple. Sure you are not seeing the different depths of figure in the timber that may be appearing blotchy?

Yes I would say you have used too much. Like the old ad said a little dab'll do ya or a little goes a long way.

You need to use 2 to 3 coats on a bowl that will be used. Hard Rock Maple will need at least a couple of coats even for a display piece and may still look strange or blotchy especially around birdseye, quilting or other figuring. Usually not a flaw in your finish just the way the timber is. Could look even worse with other finishes.

Traditional Wax applied by hand, left to dry then buffed off with clean soft rag will help and even this may need a few coats over a couple of weeks. Don't use for anything other than dry foods like nuts, chips, biscuits etc after the Trad Wax as (like most waxes) it may water mark.

Wax as often as you like.

Cheers - Neil