Mark Putnam
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WR Rocks!
Posts: 119
Houston Texas USA
Gender:
Grizzly H8259 10" x 18" benchtop lathe - 1/2hp motor - Speeds: 826, 1205, 1713, 2422, 3337 RPM
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This weekend I finished turning my first-ever vase. It is made of mahogany, measures about 8" tall, and has a simple "olpe" shape. It is about 4" in diameter at its waist, and at its narrowest point--the neck--it is about 3" in diameter.
This week I'm planning to sand it and begin applying a finish. Finishing just happens to be the most confusing and uncertain part of my already limited woodturning skillset. So I'd like to ask for your opinions--How should I finish this vase?
Ideally, I would love for it to be waterproof to allow it to be used to actually hold cut flowers. But I realize this is a complicated, most likely impossible task. So I am also open to less functional, more decorative suggestions. The wood has a few interesting features to the grain that I would like to bring out, and I would prefer that the wood be darkened as little as possible. I would like to have everything completed in the next two weeks.
For your information, here are the finishing products that I currently have in my shop and are available to me:
- Boiled linseed oil - Rockler's Tung Oil (100% Pure) - Minwax Tung Oil Finish - Prelude Butcher Block Oil - Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish & Conditioner - Shellawax Liquid Friction Polish - System Three T-88 Structural Epoxy Adhesive - Stick Fast CA Glues (thin, medium, thick, and flexible) - General Finishes Enduro-Var Water Based Urethane
Specifically, I'd appreciate your input on the following questions: - Should only one of the above products be used, or would some kind of combination be more effective? - Depending on your suggestions, can/should the vase be finished on the lathe or off? - What methods for application would you recommend?
I understand that finishing is largely a matter of personal preference. However, I have VERY little experience with finishing, and I have never worked specifically with mahogany. Also, this vase is intended as a gift, so I would like not to ruin it by going in with a random choice of finish. Thanks in advance for your input. I look forward to reading everyone's thoughts.
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