figured maple

[Mungo Park]

Good day Eh:
I am a wood worker, in Canada, and I made some marking knives with some very white hard maple handles. I picked the pieces with the most figure in it. I finished one with Watco oil with ho hum resuts to be kind. I would like a better finish that would keep the light color and "pop" the figure out. I figured I could cover this finish with something more durable if needed. I searched maple and it did not give any useable results for me. I do see photos of great maple finished so the grain comes right out so it must be out there.
Any help would be nce.
Cheers Ron.

[RufflyRustic]

something that keeps the colour and pops the grain? - White Shellac - Do a search on the finishing forum and you'll find heaps about White Shellac, especially the one made by the forum sponser.

cheers
RufflyRustic

[Mungo Park]

Thanks
Cheers Ron.

[Greg Q]

Hi Mungo...

The traditional way to pop the grain on Maple is with ferrous sulphate (Save Ferrous!). This will also darken the early wood some what, but the contrast will be much greater than untreated.

As Wendy says, clear shellac won't shift the colour to amber the way standard shellac will.

I'll do a quick read of my books and come back with a recipe.

Greg

[Greg Q]

I just did a google and came up with a lot of hits. This is pretty common stuff, and used (among other things) as a treatment for anemia. You would need to source it locally (obviously).

If you try it, can you post some pictures?

Greg

[Mungo Park]

I will hunt both of them out, the whiete shellac should be easy to find. I will get back to you, it might take me a little while. I would be happy to post some photos when done. Thanks again, I did google but I guess I did not use the right key words.
Cheers Ron.

[RufflyRustic]

This should help
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=25296&highlight=white+shellac
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=20454&highlight=white+shellac
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=21169&highlight=white+shellac

The links all look the same, but they aren't.

cheers
RR

[DanP]

I believe that Lee Valley are now stocking U-Beaut Products...

[Mungo Park]

Thanks again for the tips. Lee Valley is close by so I will pop over to have a look. I will have to re read the tips again once I get the stuff in my hands.
Cheers Ron.

[RufflyRustic]

.....Lee Valley is close by so I will pop over to have a look. ....

Lucky bugger!!!! Enjoy!:)

cheers
Wendy

[Auld Bassoon]

Lucky bugger!!!! Enjoy!:)

cheers
Wendy

Agreed Wendy,

But a bit hard on the wallet :eek: :D

If Leev Valley were witin Co-ee, I'd eithe be broke and crying, or broke and happy: the devil of it is, I can't decide which :o Either way, I'd soon be broke :(

[RufflyRustic]

Yeah, me too. Maybe the only way to get past it is to get a job there and with the new HR laws, negotiate to be partly paid in $ and the rest in tools :D

Yep, I'm dreaming:(

cheers
RR

[Greg Q]

Lee Valley opened a store 700 meters from my old work place in Canada. :) That was three weeks after I left to come to Australia.:(
On the other hand, I definitely would have had to sign over the pay cheque to them had I stayed.:o

Greg

[RufflyRustic]

Geez, I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, the LN store opening after you confused: . The good thing is that you are here in Oz :D

Wendy

[Greg Q]

Thanks Wendy...I am busy wearing out my welcome on another thread, and you go and say something nice!;) ;) :)

Cheers

Greg

[Mungo Park]

Well I did mention to my wife that the Lee Valey store was close and your forum was not. I will also mention to you it is very cold here and my wood shop is unheated! That is why I am finishing handles in the middle of Jan.
Lee Valey send their catalog out seasonally and it is great , I think WOW I would like that, and I sometimes even go down to the store to look at the stuff. In the end I think that I have something less flash to do the job, or can get buy without it, and do not cough up the cash. So other than being able to go to look at the store as a perk, or maybe that is just a curse, I think I end up owing the same amount of their stuff as you, that is very little. I hope this makes you feel we are still on much the same level, other than you having more knowledge in finishing than me. So next time I go I will do a group look for all of you!
Cheers Ron near Lee Valley