Thread: Is protective finish without darkening possible? (Recycled Pine coffee table)

Haymes Paint: Simply Woodcare Aqualac Floor Finish

Pine will naturally colour with sunlight, no light or any light.

How about a sheet of glass over it? With that surface texture, it'll be a grot magnet in no time!

Failing that, dewaxed white shellac - U-Beaut Polishes - WHITE SHELLAC

Thanks and Master Splinter.

Master, glass top is last resort, and issue with white shellac is: "This polish will not darken the colour of the timber it is applied to any more than putting water on to the timber would." this is precisely what we're trying to avoid.

Doesn't wax simply sit on the surface and therefore darken the wood less than shellac/water would???

Thank you.

The bottom line is that the timber will darken whether you put any finish (including a glass top) or not.

Why does that happen? Is it just a result of the natural ageing of wood (pine specifically?)?
Also, do you know whether wax would darken the timber less than something "wet"?
We accept darkening is inevitable, just looking to minimise the effect.
Thank you.

Wax will build up and darken the finish over time; it's not a 'one coat and it's done' finish - it's the sort of thing that has to be maintained with reapplication.

Timber will also darken naturally (unless it's in direct sunlight, in which case it will bleach), and of course, unfinished timber will suck up any red wine/tea/coffee drips like a sponge as well as picking up its own 'oil' finish from any fatty foods/biscuit crumbs that end up on it.

Sheet of glass.