Finishing Aged and Weather Cracked Timber
I using and finishing in the timber in a clear lacquer. I have a fair bit of old aged weather cracked timber (Jarrah) and in order to maintain a reasonable dressed finished size these cracks can't be removed, under a clear finish they add character to the finished item. These cracks vary from hairline to a millimetre or so wide and in varying lengths. Once upon a time I would have just smeared a matching putty into the crack but the putty never really matches and gets into the surrounding grain and sticks out like the proverbial. In more recent times I have painstakingly dripped and/or injected the clear lacquer into the cracks to fill/build them up so the finish becomes one unblemished and smooth surface. I'm currently making a table out of this weathered Jarrah timber and yesterday I decided to flood the timber with the clear lacquer lightly diluted working it into the cracks, today upon drying the cracks are really become enhanced, so as I've sealed the timber I have mixed up some jarrah putty into a pea soup consistency and spread across the entire surface.... I guess tomorrow when I sand it all back will be the test :think2: