keepin the wood a light color

radrob · #1 03-04-2008, 10:12 AM

I am getting ready to finish my next carving. the last one i painted my eagle head white. I finished it with spar varnish and it turned yellow. Should i have used urathane? this one i an going for a natural look, I know the varnish is going to darken the finished product. what should i use for an outdoor finish that wont change the color much. The one i painted last time i was going to try linseed oil,but the can said to apply to bare wood? I thought i read that some people are using this on top of paint. I am confused.
Rob

snickerbocker · #2 03-04-2008, 10:52 AM

Rob,
We use BLO on top of thin acrylic washes all the time. I don't know how it will work on thicker paint or oil paint.

Plain_Ol_Ed · #3 03-04-2008, 04:59 PM

I don't think blo is what you are looking for.

Most Urethane and varnish finishes will add a yellowish brown tint to the subject. A WATER based polyurethane should do the job. Just a couple light coats. Too much and it will have a whitish haze to it. Another one that will work is Krylon Acrylic.

Ashbys · #4 03-04-2008, 06:27 PM

Another question,

What is your paint base ? oil, water , acryllic ?

Ash

mark yundt · #5 03-04-2008, 08:25 PM

Make sure you find one that specifically says "non yellowing". Most are famous for adding a yellow or amber tint,,especially over white where it'll show up for sure. It really shouldn't matter what you have under it,,acrylic,oil etc.,,,it's the final clear that is giving you a problem.
Many of those finishes won't appear off color because they are usually going over a stain of some sort and the amber can add to the warmth if it's visible at all. But over something so light like a blond /white /light color,,it will show up quite a bit.

radrob · #6 03-04-2008, 09:00 PM

I am using acrylic craft paint and watering it down a bit.
The blue and red looked great just the white really turned yellow.I only did one coat becouse i new if i put another one it would be worse.
Dose the lso change the color. I bought a can and havent tried it yet. or should i go for the poly.

radrob · #7 03-04-2008, 09:22 PM

Trying to post a pic but its not working

radrob · #8 03-04-2008, 09:34 PM

trying again

blanchard65 · #9 03-05-2008, 08:17 AM

One thing to remember is that any clear oil finish will yellow (FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD) with age. That is why I love my knotty pine cabinets in my kicthen. But it might not be what you want on a carving. I don't have a answer but just thought i would let ya know