Curly Maple Finish Procedures

Curly maple is frequently used for musical instruments.

Applying a finish to highly figured woods such as curly maple is both a joy and trial. With proper treatment, curly maple exhibits a quality finish that experts call chatoyance, a shimmering, reflective surface similar to that of some gemstones. The swirling grain and varying density that give this expensive wood its character are what make it such a challenge to finish. Do it well and you enhance the wood. Do it poorly and you can mask its beauty. Although woodworkers disagree vehemently on the best method, most agree that less is more.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper in various grits
• Tack rags or compressed air
• Amber or orange dewaxed shellac
• Wiping rags
• Oil-based varnish

Instructions

1. Sand the wood with 220 grit sandpaper to get a smooth finish. Use compressed air or tack rags to remove all the dust thoroughly.

2. Apply a coat of fresh, dewaxed amber or orange shellac with a wiping rag. Allow the piece to dry completely for two to three hours, depending on the humidity level. Sand with 220 grit sandpaper. The goal is to remove color imparted by the shellac on open areas of the wood grain, thus emphasizing the figuring. Blow the piece clean with compressed air or use tack rags.

3. Apply a coat of oil-based varnish with a wiping rag. Allow the finish to dry thoroughly. Sand the piece with 400 grit sandpaper. Remove dust with compressed air or a tack rag. Apply two more coats of varnish in the same manner, sanding and cleaning between coats.

Tips & Warnings

• Because figured woods such as curly maple have so many grain patterns, they tend to sand down at different rates. Use a hard surface sanding block to avoid any ripple or washboard effects.

• For more depth of color and contrast to the curly portions of the grain, use a dilute aniline dye first, then sand to remove the color from open areas of the grain. Don't use pigmented oil stains or the color can turn muddy.

• As with any finishing method, run several tests on some scrap pieces before attempting to finish the actual project.

References

• Rockler: What is Chatoyance?
• Michael Dresdner: Pop That Grain