How to Finish Bloodwood

Finish bloodwood with water-based clear-coat.

Many woodworkers prize bloodwood for its deep red color and tight wood grain. The tight wood grain along with the oils in the wood negate the need for any type of finish, but some people like to finish it anyway to deepen the color and give it a high sheen.
Do not use shellac or any other alcohol-based finish on bloodwood; alcohol will bleed the color from the wood and make it look dull. The oils in the wood may also cause some problems when sanding and applying finish, but with a little patience and consideration, bloodwood finishes beautifully.

Things You'll Need

• 2,000-grit sandpaper
• Water-based clear coat
• Tack cloth
• Vacuum with brush
• Soft-bristled 3-inch paintbrush

Instructions

1. Gently sand the bloodwood to give you a smooth surface to finish. Coarse grits can take up a lot of oil from your project, so use 2,000-grit or finer. This gives the bloodwood a smooth, brushed finish. Move the sandpaper gently with the grain.

2. Wipe the wood with a tack cloth to remove most of the sawdust. Vacuum away any remaining sawdust with a brush attachment.

3. Apply a thin coat of water-based clear coat with a paintbrush. Dip just the tips of the brush into the clear coat and brush it on in one direction, smoothing away any brush strokes by flicking the brush up at the edges in a smooth motion.

4. Allow the first coat to dry, sand lightly, remove the sawdust and apply another coat. Once the second coat dries, your bloodwood should have a shiny, mirror-like finish.

References

• East Texas Wood Turners: Bloodwood
• The Wood Box: Exotic Wood: Bloodwood
• Furniturissimo: Finishing Bloodwood