Gel finish

[steeler fan1]

Got this from Woodsmith tips, a gel finish. http://www.woodsmithtips.com/2011/0...dsmithTips&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4710

Hope the link works. Anyone tried or have any experience with this? Since I've developed a reaction to CA I'm willing to try anything. Comments?

Carl

 

[hewunch]

varnish tends to be a finish that breaks down easily with water. Since people's often sweat, I would not recommend this.

 

[Boz]

I have used Bartlet finishes on other wood working projects. Things like small boxes and picture frames. It is a nice finish but not real super glossy. As I remember I put it on let it dry and then buffed it with a soft cloth. Perhaps with more agressive buffing like on the lathe or using a buffing wheels you could get a higher shine.

 

[isustrik]

I have good luck with this gel finish: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=30270&cat=1,190,42942

It's just a lot of waiting between coats, but they do say it's impervious to alcohol and water.

 

[boxerman]

Try using wipe on poly that works nice but you have to wait awhile between coats.

 

[leehljp]

I agree with Han's reply concerning sweat. Furniture and pens basically need different finishes in most cases because they are handled differently. Furniture does not go into sweaty palms to humid shirt pockets to hot cars to low humidity rooms with a/c to outside cold and then heated rooms. This affects how finishes hold up and react.

Some finishes such as lacquer do OK and even well. Some heavy duty poly's do well also. But general furniture finishes are not tough enough overall.