Fish Habitat... To gloss or Not To Gloss ?

I've read the arguments on displaying a fish wet (gloss) or natural (not glossed) but let's not go there. My instructor had us gloss to enhance the depth and colors. Frankly, I'm happy with the appearance for now. I've created a habitat for the display from driftwood with rocks made with a Rock Hard patching product (color was added to each rock when formed). I will mount that on a stained oval oak base and finish with some level of shine.... but not sure just how shiny. Now.... what about the habitat.... glossed or not? ... and if not, what spray product would you recommend?

[AlArchie]

My guess would be that if you glossed the fish, you should use at LEAST a semi-gloss poly finish, but I think I'd try the full gloss first. Â*If it doesn't look right, mask off your fish and hit the habitat portion with the semi-gloss. Probably best to maintain one finish on the whole project.

I've always finished my habitat displays in either a semi or satin finish. Â*That's because, in the water, fish do not have that wet slimy look. Â*That doesn't happen till a fish is out of the water and the mucuse coating reflects the light. Â*Back in the water, the fish just look colored (satin, in my opinion).

That high gloss finish, so popular with carvers, is probably the ressult of the type of finish used by taxidermists. Â*Most of their mounts were on display plaques, and were presented as they were caught and taken out of the water. Â*I think this was carried over to the displays in habitat, too. Â*

Another site you might check for advice is http://www.fishcarver.com Â* There is a forum there dealing only with fish and habitat, by one of the best, Ed Wallicki.

Last week I checked with the gallery owner, where several of my fish are, and asked her about that gloss/satin debate. Â*She told me that both styles are used and some prefer it one way and some the other, but she agreed with me about the shiny appearance ONLY being after a fish is taken out of the water.

I've snorkled quite a bit doing observations of the fish I carve, and that is where I got my basics on the slippery look.

Al

[Donna_T]

Here's my two cents worth--and that's about all it's worth. My view on gloss, semi, or matte is to come as close as possible to what it looks like in real life and in nature. If I want it to look wet, I use high gloss. Most everything else gets a satin or matte finish that is buffed with softest Scotchbrite or rubbed to burnish with a wadded up brown paper bag.

And your friend is right. If you're selling it, it depends on what finish the new owner wants to match what they like or already have. The high gloss definitely gives that 'wet' look that you need with things that are either in the water or being splashed by water.
Donna T

DONNA,
IN YOUR POST YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU BUFFED SATIN OR MATTE FINISHES WITH A SCOTCHBRITE OR RUBBED TO BURNISH WITH A WADDED UP OLD BROWN PAPER BAG. COULD
YOU GIVE A LITTLE MORE INFO ON THE PAPER BAG ? I AM NEW TO CARVING AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THAT.

THANKS,
OLD SALTY

[Kenny_S]

I will let donna aswer for herself, but the brown paper bag wadded up takes the raised wood fibers down and puts a sheen on the carving. Well anyway it did on our kitchen cabnets we refinished last summer. I really like the sheen it gave them. I have tried it on a woodburning I cave my son and it had the same affect on it. The more e=waddwd up the better, To me anyway.

Ken

[Donna_T]

Well, I'm not sure I can explain it any better than Kenny did. All I know is that doing it gives a luster or patina that you can't get by just spraying or brushing on a finish. It one of my carvings has gouged details, I will probably use the white or gray Scotchbrite (I cut little squares and put them on a mandrel and use my battery Dremel Mini-mite to 'buff' down the carving. It DOES make the wood fibers compress or lie down and picks up any stray splinters and smooths down the finish without eliminating carving marks. On a smoother carving, I really like the wadded up brown paper bag treatment. Take a square of grocery bag about 18' x 18' and wad it up several times to somewhat soften it, then use it to rub the carving, like you are polishing it but without any wax! The paper will soon resemble a chamois--it will get so soft. But again, the look really brings out the wood or colors.

It's just a softer, richer look. And like I learned when I first tried it, you just have to see it to believe it.

Good Luck
Donna T

KENNY AND DONNA, THANKS FOR THE INFO ON THE USE OF THE PAPER BAG. I WILL TRY IT IN A FEW DAYS WHEN I FINISH
THE CARVING I AM WORKING ON. ONCE AGAIN THANKS FOR THE TIP.

[Adgraphica]

I have a separate view than most others on this particular subject. I scuba dive, and nothing is shiny when you're underwater. By the same token, though, fish are not as colorful as they would be out of water. If you want realistic, go with a matte finish. If you want your customers to go nuts over your carvings, use gloss.