Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

[DoubleTap]

Took these pics to show the difference between using an oil based finish vs water based. One is gloss, other is satin which makes the difference look even larger ...

Actually it's just an excuse to post pics and have people tell me nice job. Some gratification after long weeks of sweating my rear off in this ridiculous heat.

[Silver1omo]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Nice work :P
I prefer the water finish.

[kmibb]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Those would go great in my living room. Let me know if you are running out of space.

[charlielaub]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Wow, they's purty.

Questions:
Why two different ones?
Apart from the finishes, it looks to me that the one to the rear/right is taller...
Looks like you veneered the front. I like the look! Is it maple?
I like how you continued the veneer down the stand in a strip. That IS a nice touch.
Is there a port tube going down thru the stands?

My 2 cents on the finishes: the left one has more body to the color, as shown in the pic. In that lighting I think it looks better, with richer tones.

-Charlie

[killersoundz]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Dude!!!! Those are your speakers? I have a construction photo of these saved on my computer somewhere, whenever I see it I drool a little! Excellent! Those things must be solid as a rock. I could swear I saved the construction photo like a year ago though...

I personally like the satin finish, it looks more true to the original plywood where the gloss kind of reminds of me a bowling alley.



Yours right?

Oh sorry I'm dumb, you have a business and you make these all the time

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

They say that oil-based varnish "yellows" the wood in a natural way, and the proof is definitely in those photos. The water-base finish looks pale and sickly in comparison. Not to say the water-based varnish doesn't have a use, but after seeing those photos, I don't think I'd ever use it without some sort of interesting dye or glaze coloring the wood first.

[NEO Dan]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Man those are a wreck ;)
You can send me the pale and sickly one, and I think Paul will take the glossy one off your hands...

:D:D:D

[williamrschneider]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

I like the modern look of the clear "pale and sickly" water finish on those modern-looking speakers.

To me, the yellow looks old and dingy. ;)

(Take that, Paul!) ;)

I'd be happy with either one, though.

[tom_s]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

I'll bet the oil-based speaker sounds warmer while the water-based is more analytical and dry. ;) Did the change in finish lift veils and increase a sense of PRAT? :p

Seriously though - great looking stuff!! I'm with Bill on this one. I would prefer the water-based version, but only because I prefer satin over gloss and I'm not a fan of yellowish hues. Either one would sound better than anything I have build thus far.

[MagicO309d]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Beautiful design and workmanship on those speakers and stands!

I like oil finishes for their depth. Water finishes tend to look like they're just sitting on the surface of the wood to me. I've read that shellac pre-coats under water based finishes can be used to build depth but I've never tried it yet.

[djg]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Based on these pics, I prefer the color of the oil finish, and the sheen of the water finish.

[donradick]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

I don't think the picture does the water based one justice. I typically prefer water based, thin, satin finishes over super glossy, sometimes thick finishes. Gotta agree with others though, very beautiful translam build, and perfect contrast and proportion between the cabs and stands.

[marscoast]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

You really shouldn't keep such nice speakers outside. I think no matter what finish you use, the rain will ruin them. With that said, if you need a place to store them inside, I think I could spare a few ft^3

Very nice cabs, those stacks must be a LOT of work... labor of love for sure! The one time I tried water-based poly I really liked the look, but found that it scratches easily.

[PassingInterest]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Any chance of a future comparison of same sheen, oil vs. water based?

[jonasz]

Re: Glamour Shot - oil v water based finish

Prefer the water based, really really nice!

I have a hard time with several different kinds of wood on the same speaker though so I would have preferred tha baffle to be lacquered black and the veneer in the stands to be the same plywood finish as the speaker itself.

Apart from that, nice work!