Daren

I know for sure there is at least one guy here who does it. I don't get to play with burl much. I have cut some thin slices off a burl (gonna make a couple clocks, the burl will be the face) I messed with it today just to see how it would take varnish, just as I expected. Burl is a total mess of endgrain and flat grain. The flatter grain took varnish well, the eyes which are endgrain just kept soaking it up. I know they make endgrain sealer blah,blah and a guy could really sand between coats too, which I didn't do I was just playing with a piece. Any tips?

Big Dave

I don't know what kind of sheen you are looking for but I use a finish on my bar tops that is an epoxy. It is however a high gloss only.

Another thought was to use a sealcoat like zinnser sealcoat then apply finish.

I do endgrain on some of my bartops and mantles and a good sanding sealer will also seal it up and allow for build.

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Burlkraft

Ya gotta be talkin' about maple...right???

I found that oil is best...I know it's a pain, especially if it's been bakin' in the Oregon sun, but when it finally fills up I have found it to be spectacular. I had one slice 3/4" thick and it was a cap cross section that was cupped. Started puttin' oil on it and was able to turn a really nice platter out of it...or should I say... Jill did

I use BLO or just regular mineral oil...That works great. Just keep wiping it on until it stops soakin' it up. When it dries I use a goblet buff and buff it out.

Then I usually spray a couple of coats of water based satin poly on it to seal it and it should be good....unless it's in the sun.

Good results come from good sanding. Oil will show tear out or scratches/gouges real well. I laways sand to 2000 grit with figured wood and an oil finish.

If it looks good the way it is I've also had good luck using bee's wax and a heat gun. Low heat thin coats and buff in between. 8 or 10 coats and you could beat it with a hammer and not dent it.

I'm not big on dying or staining. I prefer natural, and oil really ehances mother nature's artwork to the fullest. Although...I just turned a maple bedside table and I dyed it to match the woman's antique iron bed, from an e-mailed picture. When she got it she said it matched perfectly. My first dye job...a success....that will probablly be the last time.

I've tried just about everything...this works best for me.

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We will harvest no burl before it's time.....

Leo G

Just keep coating it (letting it dry) and sanding it down until you get a smooth surface. Sooner or later the end grain will fill up with finish and will finally produce a smooth finish. Be careful if you are using a top coat that has mil limits.

OR you can fill it with Bondo then sand it down for that funky pink dot effect.

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michaelhalady

indian bent knive finsh is beutifull