Is a finish necessary in all cases?

[m_ferraton]

I recently finished staining a carving project. Prior to staining I sanded down to 400 grit sandpaper, then 0000 steal-wool, then rubbed it down with a piece of brown paper back to give the basswood a polished, ivory smooth finish.

After staining and letting it dry for about 24 hours, I rubbed it down again with a piece of brown paper bag restoring the polished, ivory smooth surface.

If I apply polyurethane or shellac, in spite of best efforts, I will likely lose this nice smooth surface, especially since the surface is very curvy.

Since my models are intended for indoor display only, is a "protective" finish necessary over the long-term?

[pallin]

The decision to apply a finish to your carving is always yours. Many of us prefer the look of bare wood, sometimes even with visible gouge marks. The only reason to apply a finish is to slow down or prevent changes to the surface caused by the surrounding environment, natural or otherwise.

[woodshed]

The choice is yours, but remember the wood can be stained from other things, if not protected. Something as simple as someone picking it up (not sure of the size...) can leave a residue. Food for thought.....

John

[fly fisher]

I only put Beeswax on all carvings and thats just to bring out the colour of the wood. As long as no one smokes in your house it should be alright [ I think ].

[squbrigg]

A finish will not hide your detail, and it will keep the model/carving from staining. I'd suggest a couple of coats of spray on Krylon clear satin sealer. I use that or a water based Varithane, again a satin finish, on all my ships hulls.

Nice looking hull by the way.

Bob

[AlArchie]

Either a wax or that spray satin poly will give you a nice smooth finish and protect the surface. I do belive a wipe on poly would work as well. Might I suggest giving your hull a good rubdown with #0000 steel wool after applying the poly? That will remove any dust particles that tend to get imbedded in any finish you will apply. It also will remove any glare and give your project a nice soft appearance.

Al

[carvingbarn]

A finish is not a requirement but is protection for your work. If you live in an area that is at all humid your bass wood will absorb moister over time. I have become a fan of Deft Waterborne Clear Wood Acrylic Finish in the satin. I like the brush on better than the spray. It dries quickly. It has a minimal affect on the texture of the surface and will not darken the wood as much as some other finishes.

[Buffalo Bif]

one or two coats of oil (tung, blo, watco) will penetrate and offer protection without building a surface coat. they will change the color a bit. additional coats will start to build a surface coat, you could buff with 0000 steel wool or your brown paper bag again to take the chine back down.
I like to use a mix of polyurethane tung oil and mineral spirits, i can get a no luster finish like oil with a little additional protection from the urethane. I've even used that finish on flooring with good results.

[m_ferraton]

Thanks to all for the feedback and compliments. I think there is a consensus that some form of protective finish is the way to go for the long term, especially since once I deliver to the customer, I have no control over the environment it will be displayed. I admit my original question almost answers itself, but as I originally stated, I achieved a desired result and any additional coatings would be a change. That being said, I am going to add a protective finish of some kind. I will just have to be patient and careful during application.

@ squbrigg: Thanks for the compliment. I have viewed your ship building galleries and they are very impressive.

[Bob K.]

The main purpose of a wood finish is to protect the wood...mainly from people handling your carving...the choice is really yours. There are a lot of ways to finish wood and everyone has their favorite. Also, you might want to consider using that 0000 steel wool over that shellac or polyurethane.