nN

[email protected] (Nate Perkins)

13/09/2003 12:10 PM

Finishing cherry -- danish oil mix vs tung oil+shellac

Hi,

I'm about done with a fairly large (for me) project. It's a floating
panel bookcase out of solid cherry.

I want to make sure I choose the right finish. Previously I've often
used Minwax Antique Oil (a danish mix, I believe) on smaller cherry
projects. But recently I read some articles that recommended tung oil
followed by dewaxed superblonde shellac.

I tried both on a test piece (two coats), and darned if I can tell the
difference!

I also tried a piece with shellac alone, but it didn't quite add the
depth to the grain that I like.

Tung oil itself with just two coats looks uneven and dull in spots.

Can you pros out there explain to me the advantages of using a danish
oil mix versus tung+shellac? Or perhaps point me to a better finish I
might be overlooking?

Thanks in advance!