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Ed Weber

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Are you "finished"?
Apr 16^th, 2018 at 9:07am

Woodworkers and turners specifically, have more finishes available today than ever before. Still there are those who prefer to mix their own than purchase a retail finish.
Sometimes there may be a valid reason for mixing you own finish, other times people think than can make theirs "better" than store bought.
So, today's question is this,
QOTW
Do you prefer store bought finishes or do you prefer mixing you own and why?

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Dwight Rutherford Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 468 Roseville California USA Gender: Jet 1642 Rose Engine	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #1 - Apr 16^th, 2018 at 11:00am Finishing is my least favorite part of turning. I use store bought WOP, Antique Oil or Watco.
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Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender: Powermatic 3520C	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #2 - Apr 16^th, 2018 at 11:35am I have used store bought, but like to mix my own. French type polish (Shelac/BLO/Mineral spirits), WOP (store bought/mineral spirits). Found 2 gallons of water based poly discounted($10) at orange Big Box, so will be trying that. Glenn J.
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Ron Carrabotta Senior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 450 Dawsonville, ga Georgia USA Gender: Jet 1014 VS Jet 1642 -2EVS Lindow -White Rose Engine	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #3 - Apr 16^th, 2018 at 12:50pm Strictly off the shelf finishes for me
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Ed Weber

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Re: Are you "finished"?
Reply #4 - Apr 17^th, 2018 at 9:18am

For the most part, I buy off the shelf,
There are a few things like "thinning" or blending some oils or stains but this is usually for a specific purpose like trying to match an existing finish.
I also use traditional natural finishes like shellac and tung oil, for these I follow the same process that's been used for hundreds or thousands of years.

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Tom Coghill

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Re: Are you "finished"?
Reply #5 - Apr 17^th, 2018 at 4:58pm

I agree with Dwight - Finishing is my least favorite part of turning...so much so that I have become an expert at it, recently demoing my methods at our monthly meeting! SERIOUSLY! Shocked

I found a method that is fool proof (this means I can do it right every time), and the results are what people want to see/feel on a turning (yep, I like the results too). Most importantly is that my sweetie likes it Kiss

! (24 years married, yesterday).

Funny, this same thing happened to me at work. I have become the company expert in an area that I neither liked or was good at ... I guess this just means that I am officially now a stubborn old man Angry

PS - Get Off My LAWN! ..lol Grin

oh, I guess this was about what I use.. I use an off the shelf finish that I thin by 50% before applying... so is that "off the shelf" or "custom"?

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« Last Edit: Apr 17^th, 2018 at 5:01pm by Tom Coghill »

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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #6 - Apr 17^th, 2018 at 5:20pm First of all, Happy Anniversary Sorry I didn't put the option for mixing off the shelf finishes, turners For anyone else, if you alter it, it's no longer off the shelf. Maybe I should have said straight from the can.
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Len Layman WR Addict Offline What have I got into?? Posts: 3,118 Grand Cayman Cayman Islands Gender: PM 3520b Jet 1220	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #7 - Apr 17^th, 2018 at 6:47pm 90% off the shelf. Sometimes I make my own friction polish for pens.
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Allan Miller Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 90 Eclectic Alabama USA Laguna Revo 18x36	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #8 - Apr 17^th, 2018 at 10:33pm I have tried just about everything I can find and now just about exclusively use either walnut oil I get from the store or mix my own shellac flakes for a 1# cut finish
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Steve Doerr WR Addict Offline Wood is one of God's hidden /> /> canvases. Posts: 837 Joplin Missouri USA Gender: Rikon 70-050VS Jet 1642 EVS 2HP Robust American Beauty	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #9 - Apr 17^th, 2018 at 11:12pm Well, I guess Tom (Happy Anniversary!!!!) and I are about the only ones that don't use finish right out of the can. My go to finish is a mixture of BLO, WOP & Danish Oil. I do use CA right out of the bottle for pens and some of my turnings that I have dyed.
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Ed Weber

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Wilton
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Re: Are you "finished"?
Reply #10 - Apr 18^th, 2018 at 8:46am

Part of the QOTW was why

Do you enjoy mixing finishes, do you like the convenience of store bought?
Price, time, clean-up, durability, ease of use, shelf life, these sort of things.

Other than the few exceptions I mentioned above, I prefer the consistency and durability of store bought finishes. I'm not talking about viscosity, I mean every time I buy a can it's the same as the last time, without having to mix it myself. I also like the durability of these finishes, the resins and specific additives in many of today's finishes are far superior that in years past and aren't something you can easily (if at all) replicate at home. Not many people make their own polyurethanes or finishes with UV inhibitors, high solids or pigments.
That's my why, what's yours?

Disclaimer
I also do a lot more finishing than just turned items

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Steve Doerr WR Addict Offline Wood is one of God's hidden /> /> canvases. Posts: 837 Joplin Missouri USA Gender: Rikon 70-050VS Jet 1642 EVS 2HP Robust American Beauty	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #11 - Apr 18^th, 2018 at 9:06am Ok Ed. Someone told me about the mixture I tried it and I liked it. One you get to be a certain age you don't like to mess with what works for you
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,939 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #12 - Apr 18^th, 2018 at 9:24am That works for me
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Rick Caron Senior Member Offline So many logs, so little time! Posts: 456 Greer South Carolina USA Gender:	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #13 - Apr 19^th, 2018 at 6:51pm Mix my own. I go with 2 coats of half BLO half minerals spirits. Then wiping 2 to 3 coats of wiping poly. Saves lots of time drying. Use to use 10 coats of formbys tung oil finish, Which is mostly thinner. Use to spend much time waiting for previous coat to dry...
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Steve Doerr WR Addict Offline Wood is one of God's hidden /> /> canvases. Posts: 837 Joplin Missouri USA Gender: Rikon 70-050VS Jet 1642 EVS 2HP Robust American Beauty	Re: Are you "finished"? Reply #14 - Apr 19^th, 2018 at 8:22pm Rick. that’s what I like about mine. I dip the turning in my mix for about an hour, pull it out let it drip and then wipe it “dry” with paper towels and let it dry. After it is cured, 4 or 5 days I Beall buff it and it is good to go.
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