Finish advice for live edge walnut dining table

[measurecutcurse]

I'm building a live edge dining table using air dried walnut slabs for the top, and cherry for the legs.

I'm looking for a matte finish, preferably wipe on, that will provide durability for use as a dining table. It will get mostly occasional use, nit every day, but I want it to be moisture resistant for things like spills.

All advice is welcome.

Thanks

[jteneyck]

Any wiping varnish should meet your needs.  I like Arm-R-Seal satin but you could use Waterlox OSF for a darker hue and rub it out after it's cured for a month.  

John

[zaret]

Any wiping varnish should meet your needs.  I like Arm-R-Seal satin but you could use Waterlox OSF for a darker hue and rub it out after it's cured for a month.  

John

this.  john nailed it.  ARM on walnut is my go-to, but waterlox is also beautiful.  one's a urethane resin, one's an alkyd resin.  the waterlox is deeper color, more orange.  on my walnut pieces in my house, i use arm-r-seal over seal-a-cell.

good luck, post pictures when you're done!  sounds like one heck of a piece.

[jteneyck]

this.  john nailed it.  ARM on walnut is my go-to, but waterlox is also beautiful.  one's a urethane resin, one's an alkyd resin.  the waterlox is deeper color, more orange.  on my walnut pieces in my house, i use arm-r-seal over seal-a-cell.

good luck, post pictures when you're done!  sounds like one heck of a piece.

Not that it matters much, but Waterlox uses a phenolic resin.  P&L 38 (I think that's the name) uses an alkyd resin.  And you are right that Waterlox gives a deeper color.  Arm-R-Seal is actually pretty clear for an oil based varnish.  I've used it on curly maple and it imparts very little amber hue.  

John

[zaret]

Not that it matters much, but Waterlox uses a phenolic resin.  P&L 38 (I think that's the name) uses an alkyd resin.  And you are right that Waterlox gives a deeper color.  Arm-R-Seal is actually pretty clear for an oil based varnish.  I've used it on curly maple and it imparts very little amber hue.  

John

John - thanks for this, of course, you are correct.  arm-r-seal is wonderful stuff... in fact, i used some just this morning on three walnut mantles. 

by the way - my go-to now for hard maple is odie's oil.  i'm yet to find a more beautiful finish on maple.  pretty on walnut, too.  and, zero VOCs, which is nice.

[jteneyck]

John - thanks for this, of course, you are correct.  arm-r-seal is wonderful stuff... in fact, i used some just this morning on three walnut mantles. 

by the way - my go-to now for hard maple is odie's oil.  i'm yet to find a more beautiful finish on maple.  pretty on walnut, too.  and, zero VOCs, which is nice.

Thanks.  I've wanted to try Odie's Oil.  Might just have to now.  

John

[rwe2156]

I hope that baby stays flat!!

Are you installing any metal braces?

[measurecutcurse]

I hope that baby stays flat!!

Are you installing any metal braces?

No. That woods been in the shop for ~3 years and off the mill for at least 6. It hasn't moved, and it is made op of 4 different boards, and the grain direction alternates. None of my live edge pieces have moved at all.