A Tropical Finish

¶ A Tropical Finish.

¶ To meet the unusual conditions which a furniture and cabinet finish must withstand in hot, humid climates, the following is a quick and satisfactory finish for oak and other woods. It is particularly appropriate for finishing open-pore woods like oak, ash and chestnut, also for gumwood, and is equally satisfactory for the general wood trim as for furniture and cabinets. Operation 1: Clean up the wood with duster brush, putty knife and finally with a damp chamois skin or cloth. Be sure to remove all grease and dirt.

¶ Operation 2: Stain, using a water or spirit stain, preferably, but oil stain will do. If water stain is used the wood should be sandpapered after the stain is dry to smooth down the raised grain of the wood.

¶ Operation 3: Shellac. Apply one thin coat mixed about 2 pounds of shellac gum with 1 gallon of denatured alcohol. In about an hour sandpaper the shellac with No. 00 paper and clean up the surface.

¶ Operation 4: Brush on at least four coats of banana oil (amyl acetate). This spirit dries very rapidly. Put it on with the least possible brushing. It flows out and you need not fear brush marks, laps and joints. Just brush enough to quickly spread it over the surface. Too much brushing will cause this oil to lift the shellac and stain coats,it is a powerful solvent. This oil will dry without any gloss. If you want the finish to have a little lustre add about one pound more of shellac gum to the shellac coat Operation 3. If the banana oil gets too thick reduce it with alcohol.

¶ Operation 5: Let this finish dry hard, allowing an hour or more between coats of the oil, and when all are dry rub with a soft cloth to a dull lustre.

Next Page: Different Types of Woods.