Bird house finishing question

[Jack Gaskins]

What do you guys use for finish on your birdhouses?

[Thom Sturgill]

Rattle can lacquer.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Are you talking real birdhouses or ornaments?

[Jack Gaskins]

Are you talking real birdhouses or ornaments?

Ornamental

[James Combs]

CA and/or rattle can lacquer. If I have highly porous wood I will seal it with CA first.

[Steve Schlumpf]

I have used Watco Danish Oil, Minwax Antique Oil, Wipe-on Poly and spray lacquer... everything works well! More a matter of what you have on-hand and how much of a gloss you would like to have on the ornament.

Looking forward to seeing them once finished...

[Bernie Weishapl]

Rattle can lacquer or GF Woodturners Finish.

[Paul Heely]

While the bodies and roofs are still on the lathe, I use a sealer coat of shellac and then sand it back. Once they are assembled, but before the birds go on, I use rattle can lacquer. Usually 2 coats. I started doing the seal coat of shellac because I found that without it the lacquer would raise the grain on some of the wood I was using.

[Jack Gaskins]

So do I apply the finish while I have the houses still on the lathe? Currently I have my first three house done but they are sitting on the table. Do I need to jam chuck them and apply the finishes? Since I have only made three so far I am still trying to figure out a process for making these things.