Thread: Bringing out the grain

I'm making a set of scales out of 1/4 sawn sycamore and it has a really cool and unique grain pattern. It almost looks like a tiger's markings.

I really want to bring out the grain and get good contrast. Any tips on the best way to do this?

Thanks,
Doug

You can put some oil mixture on it such as Watco or Waterlox. Give it a couple of coats, let it dry for several days or even a week, see what it looks like, the decide as to finish it as normal or wipe it down with more oil. Caution, before appling your finish of choice let the oil mixture dry for at least a week.

Maybe its just me, but I feel that beeswax and orange oil really brings out the color variations in wood.

IDK if you have already done this, but sanding up to at least 400 grit will make a big difference.

Get som turpentine solution from the paint section in your local hardware store. That will help to lift up the dust from the pores and grain patterns.

For finishing, you may want to try rubbing in some tung oil with the palm of your hand. That will both seal and leave the most natural finish.

For final polish, to really bring out the grain, use some high quality orange oil.

I like the Watco and Tung Oil as said above. Yo ucan also bring out the grain with rubbing alcohol, but yo must let it dry. I also recommend sanding up to 1200 grit before the final coat of Tung Oil because the smoothness of the wood gives an extra gloss without ruining the beauty of the grain.
Just my opinion.

Please post pictures of your finished work if you're able. My Dad built his own coffin out of 1/4 sawn sycamore which is acting as a bookcase until he dies. The flake pattern is nice and IMO would look great on scales.

Chris L

Lots of knifemakers use Fiebing's spirit dyes to bring out the grain in maple. I don't know if it would work on sycamore, but it may be worth a try. I wasn't sure which colors are used, so I found this post on Bladeforums. I gives a brief description of the dyes and process.

jdm61
Registered User

Fiebings spirit based leather dye. Dark brown and light brown are the most common ones used. You totally finish sand the handle and then apply the dye. The spirit based dye does not raise the grain back up like water based stain. Let it dry and rub it up with a rag. Then apply your finish as usual. if the color comes out too dark, you can lighten it up a bit by rubbing it down with 0000 steel wool.

I used a few coats of Danish oil to finish some interesting spalted sycamore recently. The wood is fairly porous and will soak up a lot of oil (maybe too much). I recommend sealing it with some wax after oiling. A coaster I did this way is holding up nicely.

This photo shows how the grain turned out. As you can see, this material was riftsawn, not quartersawn. The strange colors are due to the spalting.



Phillip

Originally Posted by PDobson

As you can see, this material was riftsawn, not quartersawn. The strange colors are due to the spalting.

riftsawn?
quartersawn?

I'm not sure what you just called me, but when I get a dictionary, you're in trouble.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Please post pictures of your finished work if you're able. My Dad built his own coffin out of 1/4 sawn sycamore which is acting as a bookcase until he dies. The flake pattern is nice and IMO would look great on scales.

Chris L

Found out not so long ago my late grandma used to use a coffin lid as an ironing board.. Nice huh? lol