Baltic Birch Finish

[WigWag Workshop]

Good Day Folks!

OK, I promise this is my last question before I post my first project  What do ya'll suggest for finishing a project using baltic birch?  Lemon Oil? Clear Acrylic Spray?  I plan on making one of Steve Good's Dog Puzzles (Dachshund).

Thanks in advance,

Steven

[Russ C]

You can use Clear Acrylic Spray by itself. Sometimes there are issues spraying Clear Acrylic Spray over Lemon Oil or other oil base products. If I use Lemon Oil I use Spray Lacquer as the first coat, it seals the oil in better. The spray several coats of Clear Acrylic Spray for a gloss finish. Clear Acrylic Spray is cheaper than Clear Spray Lacquer so save the Lacquer for the first coat. That is just a couple of ways. There are dozens of others. 

[MadHatter]

hi steven, most of my projects are with baltic birch and i normally use either polyurthane, or a krylon spray for color. ive never tried the lemon oil. sorry if i wasnt much help.

[julief]

Just spray it.

[dgman]

If I want a little color on BB I use a mixture of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. It brings out what little grain the BB has and darkens it a bit. After it drys I spray on several coats of Deft semi gloss lacquer.

[jimbo]

I normally only use linseed oil for bringing out the color of the wood also, the oil pops the color and grain, and for a gloss finish I spray with polyurethane clear, if it is a white wood I use poly. only as oil tends to yellow the wood
Jimbo

[Marcellarius]

I usually put oil on my BB.
a mixture of 15% orange with 85% tung oil.

[jimbo]

When using oil you should always thin it, 50/50, this stops it going sticky and helps the oil penetrate into the wood, dip method or brush and put plenty on, not sure why you would mix 2 different oils???
Jimbo

[julief]

Jimbo,  I use danish oil for most of my stuff because it pops the grain and drys quickly without getting sticky.  I avoid tung oil because of the sticky.  What do you thin it with?

[Marcellarius]

I mix the oils because of the reasons Jimbo mentioned.
better penetration, it drys quicker,  leftover oil can be removed more easily.

The orange oil is much  thinner than the tung or linseed.
I use to thin the oil with white spirit "turpentine", this works well, but  although I like the smell of tung, I like the smell of orange much better.

perhaps I vary the mixture between 15/85 and is 30/70 % on "feeling" but no more than that.
I don't mix 50/50 but I will try that nexttime.

I dip my small objects and hang it so the extra oil can flow down.
then after a couple of minutes I rub of the extra oil and hang the object to dry.
most of the times (with baltic birch) this takes no longer than 1 or 2 days.
if necessary I polish the object and repeat the process.

I make my keychains from 1/4 x 2" hickory "ply"  bed frame.
this dries quicker and when I'm in a hurry I use my wifes hairdryer to speed up the process.

works well for me.

[Judy Hunter]

I use mostly Baltic Birch.  When finished sanding, I dip it in Min Wax (lots of colors available) Wipe the excess back into the dipping pan with a rubber spatula.  Then I wipe it down really well.I lay it on 4 layers of paper towel,  cover it with another 4 layers and tap it gently with a rubber hammer to knock the excess stain out of  fret holes.  Or you can blow it well with the air compressor and wipe again. Let it dry a few days, then spray it with your choice of finish or leave as is.

[jimbo]

Julie i thin with paint thinners [turps in NZ] I use 50/50, but tung oil you have to be careful as it tends to go hard after mixing, that is why some danish oil goes hard in the tin, it is because they use tung oil, I make my own danish using  1/3 boil linseed, 1/3 polyurethane 1/3 thinners, and that will keep as long as the lid is put back on the jar
Jimbo

[carlton4143]

When making puzzles you don't want to use a finish that will build up. Two or three coats will keep puzzel peices from fitting together without sticking. Oil is best for puzzles.
Carlton

[WigWag Workshop]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  I will be experimenting with all of your suggestions. 

Steven

[Judy Hunter]

When I use a new quart can of Min Wax, I pour it into a wide mouth quart jar label, and throw the can away. The lid screws on tight and it is a lot easier to open and clean up. Also with the glass jar it ia easier to see when it is well stirred and ready to pour into my dipping pan.