Finishing Ebony

[Joe Scarfo]

My girlfriend just finished turning ebony parts to make an atomizer.

My question is the best way to finish ebony.

It's been sanded to 400 grit and it doesn't have much of a shine to it.

How do you guys finish off ebony projects?

Thanks
Joe in Green Bay

[Bernie Weishapl]

Joe when I turn a finial I usually use the same finish I do on the piece which has been wipe on poly or plain old rattle can lacquer both in gloss. I have been pleased with both.

[Ron Ainge]

Joe

Ebony is a funny wood, it hates to be sanded and will check if you get it hot when you are sanding it but as Bernie said you can use just about any finish on it and it will look great. I use a high gloss spray and it only takes a couple of coats to make it look like an mirror.

[Bill Wyko]

Myself, I like Tung oil. The trick to tung oil is to apply coats 24 hrs apart with a 0000 steel wool rub in between coats then at the end, apply a coat or 2 of Minwax paste wax. If you go to the woodworking projects section, you can see the ebony musical note I put on the Humidor.

[robert hainstock]

The best looking finish I have put on ebony is wipe on poly, buffed. Before any finish is applied I sand to 600, then friction buff with auro body polish, (white diamond). :):)
Bob