Sealing Wood

General Discussion
1

Just wrapped up my 3rd Alaia, and am looking to seal it. Previous board have sealed with water sealant that I have found around the house. I am looking for a complete slick glossy look. I have done some research on the form and see a few main options, Oil, Varnish, Epoxy, and fiberglass? I have surfed some of my pervious boards and encountered splinters, which is why I’m gravitating way from the oiled look. Feedback is appreciated and picture if possible so I can compare the varnish vs oil vs epoxy, etc…

Thanks

Pete

2

I have sealed a wood board with Resin Research epoxy and was happy with the result. Didn’t go for high gloss, just a satin finish.  Glass even better still, IMO.  Tho I’m talking HWS, no experience with alaias.

3

To us epoxy, mix a small batch and sqeegee it into the wood going over it 3 times at least.  Let that tack up and brush a second coat.  The second coat will flow nice over the tacky first coat.  If the wood is very porous it might take a third coat.

 

4

I have had excellent results on wood boards with General Finishes Salad Bowl Finish.

 

Much simpler and slightly more enviro friendly than epoxy, goes on quick and easy to repair.  

This was actually rubbed back with steel wool. 

More coats more gloss.

5

Varnish or oil … 100 coats will give a great gloss look that will hold up… Could even be French polished after. 

Both options I’m sure are more work than your looking for though… 

Search the archives… More info that you can handle on the subject. 

6

If the alaia is pawlownia I would recommend orange tung oil.

7

@unclegrumpy

That finish looks pretty good with that stuff, thanks for the pic to get a better idea!

@gregloehr

Wow, I like the idea of finding the middle inbetween two layers! Think I might try this. 

8

This would be my 1st choice.  Other finishes would be Tung Oil, Watco Danish Oil, and a product by Minwax known as Polysheen.   Acrylics are workable as well;  Behr Floor and Tile Sealer in Satin and Wet Look.  Way back when guys used to finish wooden boards with Cheese Cloth and Varnish.

9

Four coats is plenty and can be done in two days if the weather isn’t too humid…

10

The Best I have ever used for long lasting ,strong and beautiful results is Epifanes Gloss Marine Varnish. Works well over an epoxy sealer seal the board two coats epoxy sand to 220 or 320 grit . Do a couple of coats of The Epifanes varnish. If you want to get crazy do about 6 coats sand to 400 grit between. Even an ordinary piece of wood work will look like a master carpenters best work.  I have used this on bright work on some very impressive Yachts and the Hull of a couple of classic mahogany runabout from the 1930s and 1950s Held up very well and has excellent UV protection 

11

Epifanes Marine Varnish is good stuff.  Lots of coats = sweet gloss