Clear Finish...

[tomzarbo]

Hey guys,

I'm nearing the end of a speaker project of which one pair will have a white oak veneer. I love the look of it without any finish, and I know the usual stuff I use tends to amber/darken it up a bit. I'd love to keep it as light as possible. I usually use poly or Lacquer, much more frequently poly though.

I'm thinking maybe a water-based poly would keep the light look?

Do you guys have any ideas on what will sufficiently protect, but still keep the nice light look that I desire?
(This is a speaker collaboration with Nick from TOID's DIY audio by the way.) -- Our take on a very cool retro speaker from the 1980's I've been wanting to reproduce for decades!

Thanks for any ideas,
TomZ

[johnny5jz]

A water-based poly should work well. I use it specifically when I want a crystal clear finish with no tint.

[tomzarbo]

A water-based poly should work well. I use it specifically when I want a crystal clear finish with no tint.

Thanks Johnny,

Any particular brand you like?

[devnull]

I use minwax water poly with a foam brush. Stir not shake to mix it. Might try a test board to play with reworking it when wet and recoat drying times.

[Steetson]

Thanks Johnny,

Any particular brand you like?

I've used Enduro and Renner(a few projects, including I think 2 speakers and a riflescopes mount for my Garant), both worked the kinda same, but feels like Renner was a tad bit more "even". Might be just me messing up ofc :D

[johnny5jz]

I also have just used the Minwax and has good luck with it. I have come to like it better than standard poly from an application standpoint. It goes on milky and is easy to see areas that were applied too thick and could potentially run.

[djg]

I used Minwax water based poly on some rough pine boards for bed frame mattress supports. I don't know about finish quality, but it definitely did not color the boards in any way.

[a4eaudio]

I just did this last week. I actually used some oil based finish and they were as dark, or darker, than I wanted them. I would have normally used oil based polyurethane but did not want them any darker or and more amber. So I let them dry for several extra days and used Varathane water based polyurethane. Not because I think Varathane is the best but because it's easily available at Menards near me. I put on lots of coats and the finish ended up lighter than when I started.

[tomzarbo]

Okay. Well, that sounds a bit like a consensus.

I shall try and get some water-based poly and give it a go on some test veneer to see how it does. I've actually been kind of wanting to try some.
I first used it about 20 years ago and didn't love the finish it gave, it seemed a bit 'unclear' or somewhat cloudy. Tough to describe, but just not even, and I remember it bothering me a little bit.
I'm glad they've spruced the formula up a bit in that time.

Thanks guys!
TomZ

[a4eaudio]

I first used it about 20 years ago and didn't love the finish it gave, it seemed a bit 'unclear' or somewhat cloudy.

The speakers I did last week I started out with lightly thinned (with water) poly and a foam brush on raw veneer. I did not do a good enough job getting rid of the brush strokes. But that was my fault and otherwise turned out fine.

Doing the baffles now, gloss black, and thought it would be easier to use the spray can of the same Varathane poly. My first coat was a little thick and left a little bit of cloudiness but luckily on a place that won't show it. Working in my garage, the can was probably a little cold (50's or 60's nothing too extreme). I started putting the can in a sink of warm water for about 5 minutes before using.

Bottom line... Go thin coats and plenty of dry time and you should be okay.

[KEtheredge87]

tomzarbo - White oak looks amazing with some ebony grain filler and then topcoat of good ol dewaxed shellac. My Small Batch speaker build used this method and it was very easy. That said, if you're looking for votes on water based poly, I really like General Finishes High Performance. Great product, not super smelly, and easy to apply.

[tomzarbo]

I saw that writeup in the flyer, congrats on that by the way. I loved the finish on those, really unique looking.

[mattk]

A bit spendy, but I really like Rubio Monocoat Pure.

[Paul K.]

Tom, while I have not used any of them I believe General Finishes brand has a truly clear-coat type of finish that isn't water-based. If you have a Woodcraft store near you, you could go there and chat with one of the employees. I've always found them to be very, very knowledgeable and helpful. A water-based poly will do the job, of course, but my experience with it indicated it wouldn't wear well.
Paul

[tomzarbo]

Paul, was it this?: High Performance Dead Flat Topcoat. It's water based and claims to be totally amber free and dries perfectly clear. I happen to want a matte finish with little or no sheen.

Okay, thanks Paul. This stuff is brush, roll, or spray. $45 per quart isn't cheap, but not TOO bad. I'll try that and the Varathane (Minwax) and see which I like between the two.

[Paul K.]

I don't really remember exactly the specifics but the employee I was talking with noted it was really clear and could be applied with either a brush or as a wipe-on with no lingering long-term smell like polyurethane.
Paul

[tomzarbo]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I'll look into them more this weekend.

TomZ

[unclejunebug]

+1 for General Finishes products in general. Their top coats and stains are great.