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15K views 75 replies 38 participants last post by  shipwright 
#1 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
 

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#2 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
It will be interesting to see what happens. Arizona in the winter is less harsh, as well you know. If you did this in the summer, the epoxy would melt, then char, and the wood would spontaneously combust in the heat. :p Where I live in California, it's plenty hot, too. If placed in direct sun, you'll get years of inside the Musée du Louvre UV radiation in a few weeks.
 

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#3 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
This will be interesting to watch.
 

Attachments

#4 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Interesting Paul, where are you going to test your samples, indoor, outdoor, in shade or sunlight ?
Keith
 

Attachments

#5 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Anxious to see the end results. Although we live in different climates, I have found over the years wood tends to lose its original color. A few years ago I started working with white oak more and less with exotic woods. Thanks for taking the time and sharing.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
I will be watching as this also effects people who do Intarsia.
 

Attachments

#7 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Maybe set up a mirror to amplify the sunlight exposure?
 

Attachments

#8 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Great project Paul, and I'll be following with interest.
 

Attachments

#9 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
I've always had some understanding of what sunlight an UV radiation could do to wood shades. Sometimes positive and sometimes very detrimental. I will be watching with interest. Always been curious about claims of UV protection.
 

Attachments

#10 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Look like a NICE experiment!

How often are you going to take a picture of it?

You could setup a webcam and we could look at it all year around anytime we wanted… :)

This will be very interesting.
 

Attachments

#11 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Thanks for the interest everyone.
To answer a few comments:
They are in the sun in my back garden in Green Valley Az. and yes, it is less intense than in the summer but I think that compared to the exposure that indoor furniture is likely to receive this should provide an accelerated degradation model. Not too scientific but real world "see it with your own eyes" evidence none the less.

I will take photos as time goes by over the winter while I'm here but not more frequently than weekly, more likely monthly.
 

Attachments

#12 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Should be interesting to see if the marine varnish really helps. Thanks for doing this experiment and posting!
 

Attachments

#13 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Paul, looking forward to your results…keep the list.
 

Attachments

#14 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Paul, Shellac will change the colors due to its acidity, I worked with the guys at the C2RMF (Louvre, to make it short) on this very subject, actually we're still working over this. From our research your best bet is Sandarac.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
I've been playing with epoxies for a couple of years now, and have not seen the epoxy that does not carry a UV warning. everything from "PolyTek" to "Douglas and Sturgess" art house outlets for epoxies, Urethanes and Polyurethanes used in the in the casting & hybridization processes. Epoxies from "Stick-Fast" and S3, devcon etc are not 1st choices for casting, and seldom carry UV warnings . The poly-Tek folks recommend a top coat over any of their products with a marine Varnish for any works exposed to direct and indirect sunlight. I have an old friend who swears by CA glue overcoats, but he works in small scale. It will be interesting to see your results. Goodon'ya.
 

Attachments

#16 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Love projects like this. Looking forward to follow your finds!
 

Attachments

#17 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Great experiment Paul. If you sent a copy down here to NZ I bet you would get a totally different result, we have the worst UV exposure in the world apparently due to our Ozone hole, I know we have a very high skin cancer rate.
It will be interesting to see the effect on the different timbers.
You'll have quite a following with this one I bet ;)
pete
 

Attachments

#18 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
Looking forward to the result.
 

Attachments

#19 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
I'm sorry I didn't think of it earlier, but there's a two-part polyurea (very similar to epoxy) that we used on my garage floor, and which has only yellowed a little in the portion outside the door where it's exposed to sunlight (the door faces south, and I have heated garage, so it gets sun all year 'round).

Also, someone mentioned sandarac. Behlen's Violin Varnish is the closest I've been able find to a traditional sandarac varnish (without grinding and mixing resins myself).
 

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#20 ·
A Little Experiment ...

All woodworkers know about and battle with the issue of colourfastness but in marquetry it is more than just a pest, it can absolutely ruin your work. All one needs do is look at the great marquetry created by the French masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, today mostly dull arrangements of subtly different shades of brown.

In an attempt to start to understand the factors at work in order to try to minimize their destruction, I am embarking on what I expect will become a series of experiments. This first one will look at the effect of sealing the raw wood off completely from the atmosphere with a thick coat of epoxy and the effect of a top rated ultra-violet filter in the form of ten coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish.

I am well aware of the fact that there is lots of research online but I just want to see for myself.

I started out by glueing several strips of veneer to a piece of plywood. Then after making some kerfs to separate the segments I applied four different finishes (and left one bare as a reference). The last coat of varnish went on yesterday so today the test began. Quite a simple test but I expect quite effective, the Arizona sun.

The finishes for this test are

1) Bare (Reference)
2) Shellac
3) Shellac with Varnish
4) Epoxy with Varnish
5) Epoxy

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Brown Handwriting Font Rectangle Wood


I am hoping to discover something (anything) that might help keep my work last a little longer. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Thanks for looking in. Discussion is encouraged.

Paul
You have piqued my interest!
 

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#21 ·
One Month Check-in, .... some surprises

Its been a month since I put my test panel out in the Az (winter) sun and there have been some changes and a couple of surprises.

1) Almost all of the bare wood has faded.
2) The shellac alone seems to be the finish that is out of step.
3) The Amaranth (Purpleheart) is ….. AMAZING!
4) The Cherry is a surprise too.

This is the original, before picture.

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Here is today's. Sorry it's upside down vs the above pic.
The Amaranth is second from the top.
The Cherry is second from the bottom.
Both are similar in most of the tests but very different in shellac alone.

Furniture Light Amber Wood Rectangle


Here is a close up of the Amaranth with only shellac.
Out in the sun it appears to be lit from within. ... spectacular …. and red!

Brown Rectangle Textile Wood Orange


So far the other three finishes seem to be about the same.

Until next check- in….

Paul
 

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#22 ·
One Month Check-in, .... some surprises

Its been a month since I put my test panel out in the Az (winter) sun and there have been some changes and a couple of surprises.

1) Almost all of the bare wood has faded.
2) The shellac alone seems to be the finish that is out of step.
3) The Amaranth (Purpleheart) is ….. AMAZING!
4) The Cherry is a surprise too.

This is the original, before picture.

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Line Flooring


Here is today's. Sorry it's upside down vs the above pic.
The Amaranth is second from the top.
The Cherry is second from the bottom.
Both are similar in most of the tests but very different in shellac alone.

Furniture Light Amber Wood Rectangle


Here is a close up of the Amaranth with only shellac.
Out in the sun it appears to be lit from within. ... spectacular …. and red!

Brown Rectangle Textile Wood Orange


So far the other three finishes seem to be about the same.

Until next check- in….

Paul
Interesting, Paul, so are you concluding that the shellac is not only protecting the color but helping to enhance it?

The old ways , I'm beginning to see, are very often the best. For example, hide glue, I've gone completely over to hide glue in my most recent projects.

I suspect there are many reasons shellac has been so popular for so long.

Thanks for sharing!
Jerry
 

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#38 ·
Two Months in the Sunshine

Well it has been two months now since I put my test piece out in the (winter) Az sun.
Not a lot has changed but a few things are worth noting.

Musical instrument Light Orange Wood Rectangle


Light Rectangle Orange Wood Paint


Light Rectangle Paint Wood Purple


Blue Textile Interior design Wood Flooring


Rectangle Wood Cabinetry Flooring Wood stain


1) There seems to be little difference between the epoxy alone and the two with ten coats of uv filtered marine varnish.

2) The shellac alone has dulled noticeably but it has been the strip to watch for interesting change.

2a) The Amaranth is still very much redder than te under the other finishes and still appears "lit up" from within.

2b) The Cherry has become veryred as well, as has the Mahogany.

3) Across the board the least changed of the woods is the Wenge.

4) Not much colour in the bare woods although the Wenge has remained fairly black.
....... just observing and trying to learn something.

As previously stated there are no goals in this experiment and nothing I'm trying to prove or disprove.

See you next month.

Paul
 

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#39 ·
Two Months in the Sunshine

Well it has been two months now since I put my test piece out in the (winter) Az sun.
Not a lot has changed but a few things are worth noting.

Musical instrument Light Orange Wood Rectangle


Light Rectangle Orange Wood Paint


Light Rectangle Paint Wood Purple


Blue Textile Interior design Wood Flooring


Rectangle Wood Cabinetry Flooring Wood stain


1) There seems to be little difference between the epoxy alone and the two with ten coats of uv filtered marine varnish.

2) The shellac alone has dulled noticeably but it has been the strip to watch for interesting change.

2a) The Amaranth is still very much redder than te under the other finishes and still appears "lit up" from within.

2b) The Cherry has become veryred as well, as has the Mahogany.

3) Across the board the least changed of the woods is the Wenge.

4) Not much colour in the bare woods although the Wenge has remained fairly black.
....... just observing and trying to learn something.

As previously stated there are no goals in this experiment and nothing I'm trying to prove or disprove.

See you next month.

Paul
That's a neat experiment. I hope to see it after a few years. I've been curious about the UV blocking qualities of spar varnishes.
 

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#55 ·
Three Month Check In

This will be my last report on the sample finishes in the Az. sun. I'm heading home to Canada this week but the good news is that I have a friend who lives here year round and he is going to keep the experiment going.

Things aren't much different from last month but then the sun level wasn't as high as usual in Az.

The shellac alone still seems to be the odd man out. It is the only one that has kept the purple in the Purpleheart (Amaranth) and the Cherry continues to be very different under shellac alone.

Rectangle Wood Wood stain Font Tints and shades


it will be interesting to see how the finishes do when the Az. sun ramps up the power as summer approaches.

Thanks for looking in.

Paul

Edit the order is bare wood, shellac alone, shellac with varnish, epoxy with varnish, and epoxy alone.
 

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#56 ·
Three Month Check In

This will be my last report on the sample finishes in the Az. sun. I'm heading home to Canada this week but the good news is that I have a friend who lives here year round and he is going to keep the experiment going.

Things aren't much different from last month but then the sun level wasn't as high as usual in Az.

The shellac alone still seems to be the odd man out. It is the only one that has kept the purple in the Purpleheart (Amaranth) and the Cherry continues to be very different under shellac alone.

Rectangle Wood Wood stain Font Tints and shades


it will be interesting to see how the finishes do when the Az. sun ramps up the power as summer approaches.

Thanks for looking in.

Paul

Edit the order is bare wood, shellac alone, shellac with varnish, epoxy with varnish, and epoxy alone.
Keep up the good work! This will take a lot of wind out of the sails from those who just make stuff up about wood and finishes.
 

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