Aust Red Cedar Dining Table Finish

[Ian Stuart]

I am located in the mid North Coast NSW and have had built by an 80 year old craftsman a dining room table 12' * 40 '' ( 4.07 sq mtrs surface). All timber from the one tree out of Kempsey NSW. I have ( subject to your advice) decided to use HS. Application being 3/4 coats brushed on then a Canuaba based wax. I wanted a lustre finish not gloss. I am concerned about watermarks, maintaining the finish and how many coats I should apply. ie How much should I buy. I have sanded it to 400grit and have been waiting until humidity reduces until starting. All advice gratfully accepted

Photos are available if I can work out how to post them

[orraloon]

Ian,
I am no expert on finishing so you will have to get advise from the gurus but if you can sort out the pictures of the table I would love to see it. Sounds impressive. So far I can only say I have had good results from danish oil. It can be buffed with wax after it is hard in about 7-10 days.
By the way welcome to the site. I am also in the grip of picture posting dramas as I have computer problems. The regular machine is down and I am using a wood fired steam job at the moment. Holding off on a new thread for now. Perhaps tomorrow.

Regards
John

[Oddjob1]

Love that smell, if you had your table made by an 80yr young dude, chances are he is the man to finish it, but if he doesn't want to do it then my advice is to forget oils, waxes and all that crap that takes a dogs age to dry then go and talk to the guys at Mirotone, don't do grain fill on Cedar, let it speak for itself, obviously no colour, spray on 40% gloss as many coats as gets you the build you require, ( 30 minutes between coats)! medium sanding sponge between coats to take off the rough, then 0000 steel wool, rubbing, rubbing, rubbing, blow off dust, dry rag it, then a thin coat of furniture wax, buff, instant antique! You can burnish feature points with the palm of your hand just until the pain becomes unbearable and your done!

Seeya...Jeff