Finish for Bubinga?

[Mike Gottlieb]

I am in the process of completing a round coffee table made out of bubinga with a beautiful waterfall top. In the past I have finished most projects with either Arm-R-Seal or Waterlox wipe-ons. Has anyone used these on bubinga and what were the results? I want to bring out the waterfall and am open to any suggestions you may have.

[Julian Nicks]

Start out with boiled linseed oil first. It will bring the figure out. This is always my first step when working with figured woods.

[Todd Burch]

+1 on Julian's method. Fill the pores too.

[Mike Gottlieb]

Would you still recommend using Arm-R-Seal as the final finish?

[Jim Flynn]

Waterlox works great on Bubinga. I have a kitchen trestle table made of highly figured bubinga that shows beautifully with Waterlox. Held up reasonably well too.

[Mike Gottlieb]

I assume that if I use Arm-R-Seal or Waterlox, I don't need to give a coat or two of BLO.

[Jim Flynn]

That's correct. The Waterlox will really pop the grain all on it's own.

[Guy Germaine]

For what it's worth, here is a Bubinga and Cherry table I finished a couple of weeks ago. 4-5 coats of #1 Shellac and 5-6 coats of Deft laquer. All sprayed on.

http://www.fototime.com/3857F528DAE7FDD/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/4C3835AFAE513A1/standard.jpg

[Todd Burch]

Looks great Guy. Here's a Bubinga table I did a few years ago - BLO and Lacquer. http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=18442

Todd