Thread: Sam Maloof's finish

Just finished reading Sam's (he makes the most wonderful rocking chairs; his hallmark in fact) book and thought I'd throw this one in, haven't used it yet though.

Step 1: Mix equal parts boiled linseed oil, raw tung oil and semigloss urethane varnish. Apply three to four coats one day apart, removing surplus oil as appropriate, to the raw timber.

Step 2: Add approx 2 handfuls of shredded beeswax to equal parts of boiled linseed oil and raw tung oil. Heat the mixture(CAREFULLY) just until the wax melts, in a double boiler on an electric hotplate. Apparently linseed oil has a very low flash point so do this outdoors in a clear safe area. The resultant mixture when cool should have the consistency of a heavy cream.
This mixture is applied vigourously with rags or by hand for three coats. Sam suggests that when your fingers start to get hot from the rubbing you are on the right track!!

The added urethane varish in this finish should help to make it a little hardier and easier to maintain, ideal perhaps for chairs or table tops where one still wants to be "conected" to the wood and not separated by a layer of shiny clear plastic. It certainly produces a deep, lustrous and rich glow on the furniture that Mr Maloof makes.

Hope this can be of some help to someone out there.

Cheers, Tim