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Good finish for padauk?

26K views 22 replies 17 participants last post by  timbertailor 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi all,

Well, my Christmas boxes are coming along nicely and now it is time for me to start contemplating the finishes I will be using. I have been searching the web and am not finding out much about finishing padauk. I am looking for a finish that really makes it stand out with it's rich color, and at the same time I understand that padauk will eventually change colors on me and possibly turn brown. Is there a good finish that will stave off this browning?

And while we are talking about finishes, I also have pieces of bubinga, zebrawood, walnut, and cocobolo which I need to figure out as well, so suggestions would be most welcome…
 
#2 ·
UV light causes the padauk to lose it's bright color. Michael Dresdner has suggested that Armour-All (the car stuff) will help prolong the change in color and limiting exposure to sunlight will also help. Unfortunately Armour-All contains silicon which causes fisheye (craters) to form in film finishes, so an oil based finish like Danish oil or Boiled linseed oil (BLO) maybe the only choice if you pre-treat the wood with Armour-All. I have pretty much banned any silicon containing material from my shop, as I usually finish with lacquer or shellac. Just be careful with the stuff if you ever plan to get into film finishes. Another alternative is to finish with whatever you like and put Armour-All over the top when the finish cures. Paduak will darken over time, no matter what you use.

We like when the darkening occurs over time with Cherry. Paduak, Purpleheart just will darken over time eventually. it's just an unfortunate fact of the wood.
 
#3 ·
Thanks Douglas for the advice. I was actually thinking of maybe using Danish oil. I have never considered armour-all. I may have to research that some more. With oil based finishes like danish or teak oil, can you put paste wax over top after the oil has dried?
 
#4 ·
I don't know if shellac will cover-up the armor-all treatment.

Penofin makes a 99% UV penetrating oil finish. It's an outdoor marine finish, used for mahogany boats and log cabins. I've used it but have never tried to test it against another finish over time. They say it works.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
Somewhere in there was the original one about armour-all too. The only draw back about the UV inhibitors which would be in spar varnish and the urethane is that they will muddy up the grain, which the armour-all with a Danish oil follow up won't do. My answer is to use Cardinal wood (aka Bloodwood) which doesn't fade. Redheart, another highly colored wood does fade or mellow to more brownish tints. Bloodwood stays rich and red. I have a Padauk 1˝x12˝x48˝ up on the shelf that has been there since I found out about this.

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#10 ·
Sgt,

Thanks for the post. I have just acquired two pieces of Padauk that are 6/4 21"x 15' (both from the same tree) for a steal and was planning on making a desk from it. I had heard that the wood goes through quite the color change as it ages. I think I be ordering some of that Penofin Oil finish for that project.
 
#13 ·
Armour all may save your color but contains silicone that will fish eye when in contact with clear coats. or many other finishes . if you use it don't use it were you will finish other projects because it will contaminate
your other work.
 
#23 ·
After trying many different combinations for dark woods, I find that spraying a lacquer is my first choice and brushing on a gloss poly as my second choice. I also try to finish as soon after final sanding as possible.
 
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