Thread: looking for a product that will not darken wood

while i have not tried every product on the market i have tried a lot and they will all change the timber colour to a degree, however i am confident that if you use a wax alone you should not get a colour change.

Car Clear Top Lacquer, I use it all there time, especially on my Doughwood that is a white timber. It is hard, durable and one of the most UV resistant. Although it comes in gloss, it can be dulled down with an additive or fine steel wool.

The pepper grinders were in full gloss, the table in satin using additive

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Thanks for that. Do you use any specific brand of Car Clear Top Lacquer? What kind of additive do you use?

Originally Posted by digitalstables

Thanks for that. Do you use any specific brand of Car Clear Top Lacquer? What kind of additive do you use?

I've used a number of different brands from specialised car paint distributors. They usually sell the additive, it's some sort of lacquer with talc by the look of it, the sell it in an unmarked tin. I use it at around 5%, to achieve a satin finish, more if flat is required. I then spray it with a gun. Apparently you can get it in pressurised cans as well

I have had good results with just polyurethane on black heart sassafras in the past. These days I would go for a white or blonde shellac, especially on Huon Pine. Won't darken the timber at all. Even better if you can put it on with a pad or French Polish it.

There's air in the dry wood which is displaced by any liquid finish. Thus, the wood darkens.
A wax would sit on top of the wood and probably discolor the wood least of all.

I wanted to make picture frames out of really old and weathered fence boards.
Do nothing at all. The picture frames look as good now as they did 15 years ago.

In the attached, you can see a polyurethane finish on a black heart sassafras consul table. This was done about 15 years ago. Also there is a bowl with a white shellac finish, done about four years ago. Both finishes have held up quite well and the timber has not significantly darkened.

Cheers
Swifty

Actually I did do a test with water based polyurethane and i agree, that it does not change the colour. Never used shellac but your comment is definitely going to change that. I should look for de wax shellac correct?