Finishes

  • This kit gets you started on the road to buffing – all you need to supply is the lathe, a chuck and something to buff! Inside the kit you get the mandrels for holding the Buffing Wheels in the chuck.  One of each buffing wheel (A, B and C) are included in the 8 inch size, complete with all the fixings attached to fit into the Mandrels. A bar of each of the compounds is included to get you started, these will last a long time so no need to worry about getting spares yet (although all of the items in the kit are available separately when you need to get them). Next is a stick of carnauba wax  for that final gloss finish. Last but not least is a full set of instructions on how to use the kit to get the best from it.
  • The Buffing Tree comprises of three 6 inch wheels, in the A, B and C cloth grades, firmly held on a central spindle. It’s ideal for buffing small items and, after loading the wheels with the compounds and wax, allows you to move from one wheel to the next in quick succession, dramatically reducing the time otherwise taken up by changing wheels. Ideal for polishing small items such as fruit, pens, boxes etc in batches. Requires one of our mandrels to fix to the chuck and a live centre for support at the tailstock. PLEASE NOTE: The Buffing Tree does not come as kit containing the mandrels and compounds etc; this is deliberate as if you already use the Buffing System you will have these and won’t want to buy them again. If you do not have these items they are available to purchase separately or as a pack in the Buffing Accessory Pack.
  • Mylands Blonde Dewaxed Shellac Flakes are used to produce a transparent, brown-coloured French Polish which is often used in antique restoration or the bespoke production of furniture. Easy to use, it is ideal for use on lighter coloured woods.  
  • Iridescent Paints give a change in hue, a slight colour shift when viewed from different angles and are especially effective on irregularly shaped items.
    Available in nine different amazingly bright and vibrant colours –
    • Green
    • Azure
    • Purple
    • Red
    • Turquoise
    • Cerise
    • Pink
    • Yellow
    • Vivid Blue
    The paints are water based acrylics and can be applied by brush, cloth, spray gun/airbrush or any manner of ways to give interesting decorative effects.
  • All the items you need to use our Buffing System except the wheels – the perfect add-on when buying the Buffing Tree, the 8 inch wheels or the 4 inch wheels or the Dome Buffs The kit comprises of the Large Mandrel, the Small Mandrel, Compound 1, Compound 2, Carnauba Wax Stick. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUFFING WHEEL KIT.
  • Chestnut Drill Polishing Brush has natural bristles that might seem a little harsh for polishing waxes but in fact are ideal for the task. Chestnut Drill Polishing Brush, which fits any electric drill or can also be used with the Buffing Wheel System, will give a higher gloss and more resilient finish to any waxed piece. In use, the bristles splay out in a mushroom shape, making this brush ideal for polishing spindles and cylinders. It can be used on flat surfaces but is prone to leave rings so the drum brush or  dome brush are recommended for this application. The stock of the brush is about 10cm and the bristles are 4cm long. If the bristles of the brush become clogged with wax simply wash it in warm soapy water and allow to dry before use.
  • Chestnut Friction Polish

    £20.13£36.90
    Friction Polish is a shellac based polish ideal for creating a high gloss finish on or off the lathe. It’s a great decorative finish and is ideal for small items but can be difficult to apply to larger items on the lathe (over about 8 inch diameter). The high amount of shellac in Friction Polish does two main things. Firstly it helps seal bare wood and give it a great shine, which is good. Sadly the price of this commodity shot up a few years ago when the shellac crop failed and it never went back down, meaning that the cost of the polish has also risen sharply. Nevertheless, Friction Polish remains one of the most popular finishes for turners. It can be applied to bare wood but is normally used over a sealer and any of the sealers in the Chestnut Products range are suitable for this. Applied with the lathe running it dries almost instantly and builds to a deep, rich shine very quickly. Avoid using too much as this can cause ‘rings’ to appear on the surface. Friction Polish can be applied off the lathe with great success, using it like a French Polish and rubbing it into the surface. This does require a large amount of elbow grease (sadly not something we supply) but the end result is well worth the effort!
  • Shellac Sanding Sealer is the traditional way of sealing timber prior to applying a polish or a wax. Chestnuts version has a high percentage of real shellac which means it does the job extremely well, dissolved in an ethanol solution to make it easy to apply and quick drying. Applied by cloth, brush or spray it dries in about 20 minutes, making it very popular for cabinet and architectural work as it is easy to keep a wet edge running. It is also popular with woodturners and highlights the natural grain of the timber extremely well. Sand back lightly after application and apply Friction Polish, French Polish or any of Chestnuts waxes on top. Conforms to EN71 Part 3 – suitable for toys and nursery furniture.
  • Out of stock

    Shellawax Glow is darker than regular Shellawax (a deep honey to tan colour). It is made from a special blend of shellacs and is designed to give more depth and richness to highly figured timbers like fiddleback, birdseye, flame and quilted woods. It will also give more richness and a sense of depth to many other timbers.

    Shellawax Glow is identical in use and all other respects to regular Shellawax. It is applied in the same way and has all the same properties. It can also be mixed with Shellawax Cream as an extender and thinner and can be used over EEE-Ultra Shine.

    This polish may darken white woods ever so slightly, so it is a good idea to try it on a scrap piece first to make sure it doesn't darken more than you want.

    USING SHELLAWAX CREAM AS A SHELLAWAX GLOW EXTENDER Shellawax Glow can be mixed with Shellawax Cream as an extender. This allows for better use of these products on large turned work and for hand rubbed work. For bowls over (6”) 150mm diam, mix the Cream and Shellawax Glow at the rate of approx 50/50 this will give you a runny cream that will stay on the surface longer and allow you more time to work it into the timber.  

    Use different mixing rates for various jobs 20% Cream to 80% Shellawax Glow  for large platters etc up to 900mm (3’) diam and larger. 

    SHELLAWAX GLOW AS A THINNER Use Shellawax as a thinner for Shellawax Cream, which often thickens with use. This will also extend the life of the Cream. The slight colour difference will not effect the colour of Cream when used.

     
  • A low sheen finishing oil based on Tung Nut Oil, Beeswax, Citrus solvents and anti-fungal oils that penetrates the timber substrate to nourish, preserve and seal; as well as providing protection against weather degradation and rot. A natural alternative to petroleum hydrocarbons and water based oils
  • A penetrative, nourishing, quality finishing oil which reflects the original, heavy-oil formulations that traditional Danish Oils were renowned for. As a clear finish will richly enhance the existing woodcolour/s. For best results, requires quality dry-sand surface preparation; using 600 /1200 / 1500 grit papers (the finer the better) Upon curing/drying (min. 14 days) makes for ideally prepared surface for further (optional) Waxing/Polishing.
  • Ever wished you had a finish that was as easy to use as shellac but with the durability of polyurethane? Well wish no more, because here it is.

    This unique Hardened Shellac creates a film with a high resistance to heat, water and alcohol, yet it is used in exactly the same was as any normal shellac. It can be applied with a rubber as French polish, brushed, sprayed and dipped.

    HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? After shellac has been dissolved in ethanol* it is possible to introduce additives that cause the shellac to cross link after it has dried. This cross linking takes about 20 days to completely cure, less in hot weather.

    USES: Ideal for table tops and other horizontal surfaces such as dresser and desk tops, etc. Also brilliant for use on guitars, lutes, harps and many other musical instruments where a traditional finish is required and good resonance qualities are essential.

    NEW IMPROVED FORMULA In February 2009 U-beaut began adding a plasticiser to Hard Shellac. This gives elasticity to the cured finish, to combat crazing on the thin walls of musical instruments, whilst still having the same high resistance to marking from water, alcohol and heat it has always had.

  • Hampshire Sheen Intrinsic Colours being water based, they are non-flammable, environmentally friendly and afford you a long working time. They sink deeply into the wood and preserve the appearance of the figure in the wood, releasing the hidden subtleties. Apply more than one coat of dye to build up depth of colour, and add a black or earth undercoat for an even more dramatic effect. For the adventurous colourist, Intrinsic Colours can be mixed together to create even more shades or thinned with water for a lighter shade.  
  • Two-part clear cold cure lacquer for use on wood, hardboard, cork and plastic laminates. Extremely good adhesion, resistant to heat, solvents and abrasion. Can be burnished to a mirror like gloss or rubbed down to a smooth, satin finish with steel wool and wax. An excellent finish for marquetry as it does not darken light coloured veneers and does not yellow or craze on ageing. Hard-dry within 2 hours of application. Plastic Coating conforms to The Articles in Contact with Food Regulations.
  • Chestnut Melamine Lacquer

    £15.45£26.80
    When you’re looking for a hard-wearing, heat and water resistant, quick drying gloss lacquer you need look no further than Melamine Lacquer. Based on cellulose technology, Melamine Lacquer has a catalyst suspended within it; when the lacquer is in the can it is inert but once applied and exposed to the air, the lacquer dries within five minutes like a cellulose and then the catalyst kicks in and the lacquer goes on to chemically cure to give a more durable coating. 90% of the curing process happens in the first seven days after application, making the lacquer very hard wearing, the remaining 10% of the process can take up to two weeks more to give maximum toughness, something you only need to consider if the lacquer is going to be subjected to extremely hard use. Melamine Lacquer is designed to give a full gloss finish which will be achieved with a very careful application. It can be applied by brush (foam or bristle), cloth or by spraying. Where necessary, use cellulose thinners to dilute the product – especially helpful if working on a large area. The gloss level of Melamine Lacquer can be increased by using burnishing cream once it has dried, and it can also be overcoated with friction polish (to increase the depth of the shine) or woodwax 22 or microcrystalline wax (for a more natural feel).
  • Good finishing requires a good foundation, and Cellulose Sanding Sealer is probably the best way of providing one. Compatible with everything in the Chestnut Products range that benefits from the use of a sanding sealer (which is pretty much everything apart from oil finishes!) it is superbly universal. The purpose of a sanding sealer is manifold.
    • It seals the open pores of the timber prior to the application of the next coat, meaning that more of it stays on the surface and less of the finish is needed. Not only does this make it economical, when finishing the thinner the applied coat the less likely it is to get damaged, so a sanding sealer will help the top coats be more resilient.
    • Sanding Sealers also bind the loose fibres of the timber together giving a more solid foundation for the next coat, which helps make sure the final finish is able to adhere properly and thus be more durable.
    • They also include a sanding agent which acts as a lubricant to make the sanding process easier – the sanding agent also stands slightly proud of the surface of the sealer and it is this that is denibbed – the sealer itself should still be intact after sanding.
  • The ideal way to experiment with the different colours available to decide which ones you prefer, the Spirit Stain Kit contains one bottle (min. contents 25ml) of each of the twelve wood colours. These are exactly the same stain as in the bigger bottles and will intermix if you want to vary the shades available. The stains are very fade resistant, quick drying and non-grain raising.  
  • The ideal way to experiment with the different colours available to decide which ones you prefer, the Spirit Stain Kit contains one bottle (min. contents 25ml) of each of the nine colours. These are exactly the same stain as in the bigger bottles and will intermix if you want to vary the shades available.
    The stains are very fade resistant, quick drying and non-grain raising.
  • This is an oil type finish similar to Danish oil but nothing like it. This product is designed to be hand rubbed on to raw timber, giving a finish with a hard, bright, high gloss. It will bring out amazing depth and brilliance to most timbers making the grain pop and become opalescent, vibrant, shimmering and alive. Especially when used on a fine grained, highly figure timber. And if that's not enough it does it all in a matter of minutes.

    Aussie Oil is ideal for use on most small items like pendants, brooches, earrings, small turned items that cannot be fully finished on the lathe. Pens, magnifying glass handles, compacts, key rings, letter openers, in fact almost anything made of wood you can comfortably hold in your hand to polish.

    As an extra added bonus, it also works brilliantly as a friction polish on the lathe.

     
  • A one-application woodturners friction polish that really does work and is ideal for use on smaller spindle work such as pens and similar objects up to around 10 cm (4") diameter.  This exceptional polish is made using a specially formulated hard shellac as a base to give a harder, more durable finish, giving greater resistance to marks and blemishes from water, alcohol and heat.  Normally applied directly onto bare timber (though it can be used over most oils too – but test on scrap first) this polish dries almost instantly yet goes on hardening for up to three weeks resulting in a truly durable finish which far exceeds others on the market today.  Once fully cured the finish is food-safe and non-toxic.
  • Shellawax cream is a woodturners friction and buffing polish. Sharing many of the characteristics of Shellawax liquid, Shellawax Cream is specially formulated for use on larger turned projects where it would normally be impossible to get a first class finish using a conventional friction polish and on stand-alone articles such as carvings.  As with Shellawax, only one application is required to completely finish the work.  Made using a specially formulated hard shellac as a base, this excellent product gives a hard, durable finish, with impressive resistance to marks and blemishes from water, alcohol and heat.  The cream formulation retards the frictional drying characteristic of friction polishes, making it suitable for use on larger lathe-turned items such as bowls and platters.  Being a cream, this product is easily controlled in application and is very economical in use.  Shellawax Cream is non-toxic.
  • Liberon Finishing Oil is a blend of high quality oils for use on all interior wood and turned woodwork. Used to nourish and enhance the colour of the wood, it is suitable for use on kitchen tables and bathroom furniture, and can also be applied to cork, stone and terracotta. Water, heat, alcohol and food acid resistant, it gives a matt, satin or gloss finish depending upon the number of coats applied. Ideal for surfaces requiring a hard wearing and water-resistant finishes.
  • Chestnut Cellulose Thinners

    £12.00£21.65
    This pure cellulose solvent is a high quality dilutant for our cellulose based products, such as Cellulose Sanding Sealer and Melamine Lacquer. Thinning these products can help to make them easier to apply, especially over larger areas as it helps them flow out. Cellulose Thinners is also useful for cleaning any spills you may have in the workshop and is strong enough to help clean most things, taking care to ensure that it does not attack It can also be used to thin Spirit Stain to give a delicate wash effects, although spirit thinners is the better option for this.
  • Although French polish is the general term for all types of Shellac Polish, it is also a product in its own right. Mylands range contains many blends of Shellac Polish which have been developed over the years to fulfil various different requirements – some of which are slightly modified products for a specific purpose. They come in various depths of colour, which give the French Polisher latitude to choose the most appropriate product for the timber being polished. Shellac products have a variety of uses from finishing antiques and reproduction furniture to acting as a barrier between two normally incompatible finishes. They are particularly useful when refurbishing furniture as they will seal in any wax product which may have been applied to the furniture in the past.
  • Shellac Sealers are used in the French polishing trade either; as a quick drying finish to seal timber after staining; or as a basecoat for subsequent coats of French Polish.
  • Sold world-wide as probably the market leader in Friction polish. After sanding surface very smooth, seal with either Cellulose Sanding Sealer or Lacacote Wood Sanding Sealer (wiped on).
  • If you’re looking for a clear finish that is tough, hardwearing and gives a satin lustre yet is still very easy to apply, even on larger areas, you’re in the right place. Hard Wax Oil is a particular blend of tough oils combined with special waxes which dries to an exceptionally resilient finish. Ideal for anything that is going to be subjected to water splashes or a lot of handling this oil may not be indestructible but it will stand up to a lot of abuse. It retains the ease of application typical of an oil and it stays wet long enough to get a smooth, even finish – even on large areas – but is touch dry and tack free in about 20 minutes, and better yet is ready for a second coat after about four hours (in normal conditions). Hard Wax Oil will build to a bright gloss finish after 2-3 coats. Rub down lightly between coats with a fine abrasive. Once hard dry (allow at least 24 hours) it can be brought to an even brighter shine using either the buffing wheel system or burnishing cream. For a not-quite-so-bright finish use a mild abrasive to reduce the gloss. For best results lubricate the abrasive with microcrystalline wax  to retain the toughness of the oil.
  • If you’re looking for a clear finish that is tough, hardwearing and gives a bright gloss yet is still very easy to apply, even on larger areas, you’re in the right place. Hard Wax Oil is a particular blend of tough oils combined with special waxes which dries to an exceptionally resilient finish. Ideal for anything that is going to be subjected to water splashes or a lot of handling this oil may not be indestructible but it will stand up to a lot of abuse. It retains the ease of application typical of an oil and it stays wet long enough to get a smooth, even finish – even on large areas – but is touch dry and tack free in about 20 minutes, and better yet is ready for a second coat after about four hours (in normal conditions). Hard Wax Oil will build to a bright gloss finish after 2-3 coats. Rub down lightly between coats with a fine abrasive. Once hard dry (allow at least 24 hours) it can be brought to an even brighter shine using either the buffing wheel system or burnishing cream. For a not-quite-so-bright finish use a mild abrasive to reduce the gloss. For best results lubricate the abrasive with microcrystalline wax  to retain the toughness of the oil.
  • Organoils Hi-Speed Finishing Oils specifically formulated for on-lathe, under-turning-speed finishing. It is a heavy oil which can well deal with the load (fill) requirements of softwoods - you may choose to cut it (with vegetable turpentine) for denser hardwoods. One of its unique ingredients is the rare, Mustard Seed Oil (a well kept Aussie secret until now!) which gives the formulation good slip for the wet-sanding procedure and a silken touch to the finished result.
  • Verdigris Wax is a multi-purpose coloured wax for creating striking effects on all types of interior material such as wood, metal, stone, plastic and plaster. Recommended as a special effects wax, it gives green hues of oxidised copper and brass and can be worked into moulding, bronzes, papier-mâché, alabaster and carvings. Ideal for decorating household objects, it buffs to a soft sheen, and can also be applied as a wax finish to bare or coloured wood.
  • Liberon Black Patinating Wax is used for adding a coloured finish, highlighting areas or creating striking effects on all types of interior materials. It is ideal for ageing modern furniture, disguising repairs to old and new furniture, and highlighting areas on finished pieces and decorative carvings. It is suitable for use on wood, metal, gilt, plaster, tone, MDF and papier-mâché.
  • This amazing product is a cut and polish paste containing Tripoli powder, an ultra-fine abrasive.  The polish is designed to be used in conjunction with Shellawax Cream and liquid formulations or as a finish in its own right on plastics (such as acrylic, resin-impregnated burr, crushed velvet, artificial ivory and similar products used for pen bodies).  It can also be used after French polishing and restorers will find it useful to cut and revive previously polished surfaces.  Although designed to be used directly on raw timber, bear in mind that EEE is not a finish in itself and the polished surface will need protecting by the use of some other product (such as Shellawax).  EEE-Ultra Shine can be used over many other finishes such as oils and most types of varnish, enhancing the surface and giving it a smoothness and lustre with an ease that you would never have thought possible.

Title

Go to Top