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Hi folks,
I am wrapping up a curly maple wall cabinet for the laundry room.
What would be a good finish that would not darken or give it a yellow hue while still bringing out the figure in depth like an oil based wipe on can.
For now I just tried a coat of seal a cell from general finishes. It did add that slight BLO type yellow hue unfortunately.
Just PU or a coat of wax?
I dont plan on using a spray gun.
Please and thank you.
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Let's go and shake the tree.
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At the time, I did not know how prone maple is to yellowing. Twenty-one years ago the painter sprayed our beautiful (almost white) maple cabinets with an oil base clear coat of some kind. Now they are very yellow. I've heard two things: 1. use water base finish, 2. use a UV inhibitor.
Good luck with the research!
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I experimented with GF Arm-R-Seal, Watco Danish Natural Danish Oil, and Minwax Antique Oil.
The Antique Oil yellowed the least on maple and is what I use on my small box projects. I'm not sure if its enough protection in a laundry room???
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It will be hard to do, at least for the long term. The maple itself will darken over time...and I think it will happen regardless of your attempts to prevent it. But using a water borne finish is about as close as you'll come. Bear in mind some waterborne have a slight tint to mimic their oil based counterpart, so choose carefully. It's usually explained on the label if they are tinted. I know John Tencyk (?) suggests GF Enduro Clear Poly (as I recall), and the next time I need such protection I'm planning on trying it.
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The clearest finishes are water based. I've used Varathane water based for two set of stairs and the finished dried very clear.
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09-23-2020, 12:18 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-23-2020, 12:18 PM by jteneyck.)
There is a class of finishes that go on clear and stay that way for a very long time. They contain a dual UV protection system, one that keeps the finish itself from yellowing and a second (HA = Hindered Amine) that keeps the underlying wood from aging. SW's Kem Aqua Plus is the one product I know that contains both stabilizers. However, it's spray only. For a brushable product I'd pick GF's High Performance Poly. It has a UV protection system, but I'm not sure it has the HA component, too. In any case, the finish itself won't yellow for a very long time and it's a brushable product, unlike Enduro Clear Poly which is my personal favorite.
John
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Thanks for chiming in everyone.
Will explore the options suggested.
The Apple wont fall;
Let's go and shake the tree.
