[chipper67]

I finally finished carving The Risen Christ from Ivan Whillock's pattern. The Christ figure is basswood about 14" tall. I just have some cleanup to do and glue the hands on. Then I have to drill some holes in the cross and figure. I plan on using a couple of drywall screws to fasten it to the cross.

The cross is butternut. I plan on finishing the cross with a 50/50 mixture of boiled linseed oil and Watco danish oil and then final seal it with either Krylon matte finish spray, Deft satin spray or brush on a polyurethane. I'm just looking for some suggestions or opinions on how to finish the Christ figure. I do not want to paint it. I did a sample piece of basswood dipped in the Blo/danish oil mixture and it is way too yellow looking. I am after a natural look as I feel it will look nice against the darkened butternut cross. Should I just brush on some poly or spray some Deft laquer? Should I use a satin or semi-gloss finish? Is there some other product I should dip/brush on first and then final seal?

I plan on donating this to our children's Sacred Heart School annual Gala fundraising auction which is April 19th.

Any and all opinions appreciated.

Thanks,

Chipper67

[Alice in Wonderland]

if you don;t want any yellow showing there is only one way of keeping it light and it is with Waterborne Poly most companies make it now.
I have used it a lot and I usually add 10% water to my first coat( it will raise the grain sanding slightly) then straight after that depending on what you like gloss or satin.
My preference is satin and I even buff it down with sanding and wax. Do not use steel wool since left over particles will give you rost spots.
I hope it helps
Alice

[Callynne]

Chipper 67, he's beautiful! You should be very proud of the job you've done!!

If I was finishing him, here is what I'd do. First, if I wanted him stained a little darker in color, I'd coat the entire piece with a sealer first. If you try staining a soft wood, like basswood, with stain, no matter how light the color, it will grab the stain very quickly and make it too dark. (That's what happened with your experimental piece of basswood.) After applying the sealer, let it dry, then put the stain on with a soft rag, immediately wiping off all excess.

If I liked the color fine just as is, just wanted to make it richer and bring out the grain, then I'd put a couple coats of Formby's Semi-gloss Tung Oil Varnish on him. I really, really like that varnish, I have used it on all the furniture I have refinished and also on quite a few carvings.

To get a perfect finish, I put a coat on, let dry, lightly wipe over with 0000 steel wool (this will remove any fuzzys) and coat again, as many times as you want until the finish is what you want. On carvings, for me, that's only two or three coats.

Hope this helps! Again, beautiful job! Deborah


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[Callynne]

I was writing while Alice posted. I haven't had a problem with the steel wool, but now that she mentioned it, I remember that being discussed before as being a problem.

I always brush, with a clean paint brush, (and even sweep with the brush attachment on my vacuum sometimes!) the piece I'm doing, off very thoroughly, after wiping with steel wool, before applying more finish. Deborah

[chipper67]

Thanks Alice and Callynne, I appreciate your advice.

Chipper67

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I think this might be some examples of what Callynne is talking about.

Deborah Call: Reasons to Believe - Santa figurines

[DanBillings]

Try some Birchwood-casey Tru-Oil you can find it at any wal-Mart. it really works great and lasts forever you apply it w/your finger or a fine brush.It also dries quick .a half hr.or so.......................

[chipper67]

Dan,

That's interesting about the Birchwood-casey Tru-Oil. I take it you have used it on basswood before? Does it color the basswood at all? Or does it go on clear and stays clear?

Chipper67

[Alice in Wonderland]

Callynne I love your Santas, when Ed posted your site,
the Tung oil varnish is not a water borne is it?? So you would not have problem with steel wool, it is only with those that you have to be careful.I love steelwool with wax on my carvings after I used any varnish.
it is so good to see all the different approaches to finishing, so informative. Thanks for your suggestions ,one can never learn enough.
Alice

[Callynne]

Thanks Alice, glad you like my Santas! Thanks for putting the link on for them too, Plain Ol Ed! The Santas all have painted faces though, so you can't see the wood grain with them. I looked to find a picture to put on here of an example of using the Formbys for the exposed flesh parts, can't find where the heck it is, on my computer, to resize it, so I'm going to try just adding a link. If successful, you can see both my 'technics' of finishing. The tea kettle, clothes and hair are painted, the flesh done with the Formbys. And no, it isn't a water soluble finish, so that's why I never had a problem with rust, thanks for letting me know that! One less thing to worry about! Deborah

http://www.deborahcall.com/pics1/Fai...web%20size.jpg
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