Thread: Australian Red cedar decorative box

Hi Stewart,

Don't give up on shellac - it is actually really easy to get a good finish. The secret is applying it in a very diluted form and then rubbing back every few coats with fine wet and dry sandpaper (600 to 1000 grit). I use a "rubber" - a wad of cotton wool wrapped and tied or sewn in lint-free cotton (like part of an old bed sheet or shirt). The very dilute shellac leaves an even coat as long as your rubber is damp/slightly wet with shellac not sopping. I also sometimes use very good, very fine natural hair brushes (squirrel hair or similar) such as gold leaf suppliers sell. Once again, not too wet when you apply it.

The great thing about shellac is that if it doesn't look good you just wipe it off with metho - no damage done.

Have you thought of using White Shellac which is almost colourless and therefore easier to get an even-looking coat? UBeaut make and sell it and it is available on-line or from various retailers like Carbatec, Carrolls etc.)

Thank you for your suggestions and encouragement. I will keep trying with the shellac.

Hi,
Do not forget to show a pic or two even if it is a disaster, the more people who can learn from a disaster the more worth while it is, if you hide it under a bushel it is just a waste.

Regards

Given I've been asked for photos, here they are. The box has no finish on it at all as yet. I made this at Alex Springall's boxmaking workshop at WWANSW

Thanks for your suggestions

Looks good - I'm keen to see it finished.

Wow, is that your first box? Impressive...

I recommend Liberon Finishing Oil. It's easy to use, basically foolproof, and you can basically fine tune the gloss as much as you want. If you want it glossier just add another coat until it's where you want it to be.

Unless I'm either A: finishing a workbench, shop cupboard, or something else that is "utility grade" or B: finishing something like a chopping board that will be in direct contact with food, then this is the product I use.

Here it is:

https://www.carbatec.com.au/sanding-...class-3-pg-111

Good luck!

Cheers,
Luke

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

Unless I'm either A: finishing a workbench, shop cupboard, or something else that is "utility grade" or B: finishing something like a chopping board that will be in direct contact with food, then this is the product I use.

Sorry, that was misleading... it should read "... then this is the [oil] product I use."

I, like Xanth, am also a big fan of shellac, and it would be particularly nice on something like your box with the swirling, changing grain and heavy figuring. It's also a dream to apply to Red Cedar. I would, without a doubt, use shellac if I were in your shoes, but you're right in that there is skill associated. It would behoove you to practice on something (or a couple of somethings) first.

Cheers,
Luke

The first product i used on my boxes was Organoil Hard Burnishing Oil. It's simple to use, i like the aroma and it cleans up with turps. I recently used the finishing oil for a job that required no residual smell and while i found it to be very similar to the Burnishing oil in finish it doesn't smell as nice and the Metho clean up was not as good.<object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style=" display: block;"></object>

Well I have finally finished this box. Shellac and then Liberon wax. Learning to use the Shellac nearly drove me nuts, but eventually got it to an acceptable state.
It's a graduation present for my daughter, to hold her calligraphy materials.
Thanks for the advice.

It's beautiful, Stewart. Though I use hard Burnishing oil on most of my projects, I use Shellac on Red Cedar. I'm certain that your daughter will love it. I hope she puts it somewhere that you can see it when you visit. It's actually a thrill to see your early work and remember making the item.

Regards,

Rob

I think it's my 3rd box. Thanks for the nice comments and Likes
cheers
Stewart

That has really popped the grain.

First, my congratulations to your daughter. Graduations are serious accomplishments.
Second, you people seem to have a corner on the "nice" woods of the world. I am a serious fan of book-match.
Your finish has made it really interesting to look at.

Thanks.
The inside panel is birds-eye poplar. So not an Australian native. Came from veneered plywood from an old Italian wardrobe I found thrown out for kerbside collection.

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

First, my congratulations to your daughter. Graduations are serious accomplishments.
Second, you people seem to have a corner on the "nice" woods of the world. I am a serious fan of book-match.
Your finish has made it really interesting to look at.