Finishing without a colour change


Collated from newsgroup postings.


I Just finished bleaching a few pieces and want to know what do people recommend as a finish? If at all possible I would like something that would not interfere with the bleached look. All I want is something that would protect against occasional handling (I'm turning mainly decorative pieces).


I use good quality PVA glue diluted with 50% water. This concoction is applied with a brush off the lathe. It dries with a slight sheen, has good handling characteristics.After a few days can be waxed if required. I painted a door to keep natural colour about 15 years ago and is still good!!. I will try a water based acrylic varnish to see if it has the same properties soon. My job involves applied finishes and have found the above best so far.


Finish the wood by wetting the timber, and sand down when dry, this raises the grain. Then apply PVA adhesive thinned about 30 %. The resulting seal will dry out completely clear, and invisible as is found when dying wood, the PVA is maddeningly invisible and stops the dye penetrating!! I finish with wax, Briwax is good.


I've put oil over bleached surface. It's been a year and a half and everything is fine. Artist fixative would work too. Hint - if you're bleaching just small rings or a small area, incise a small groove to keep the bleach from 'wicking'. If using a cotton bud to apply the bleach, keep it angled down or it will run down the stick onto your fingers and burn. White vinegar will neutralise, water will bring pain. Dried bleach particles can burn later if they get wet.


It sounds like you want to avoid the amber effect of oil. You might try a washcoat of super blonde shellac, followed by a coat or three of white beeswax. That won't darken the wood, and it will provide sufficient protection for decorative pieces and occasional handling.

Use a watery thin cut of shellac. Flood it on the wood with a squeeze bottle or sponge, then immediately wipe it dry with a clean cloth. Wait 5 minutes, sand off the raised fibres, and apply the wax. The purpose of the shellac is to seal the wood. Wax alone will not do that.

I made a home brew of mineral oil, white beeswax, and paraffin wax that is colourless on the wood.

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