Finishes

  • Confusingly, French Polish refers to a range of polishes (which would include Button Polish, White Polish, Garnet Polish etc) and also to a specific polish, French Polish. Chestnuts' French Polish is a traditional blend of solvent (methylated spirit) and a top quality unbleached shellac which is very similar to a Button Polish in colour. Applied either to bare timber or over a Shellac Sanding Sealer it is built up in many layers which have been described as being the thickness of a cigarette paper! French Polish gives the rich amber glow found on fine antique furniture and requires a very specific technique for application that is time consuming and laborious, but the final effect has to be seen to be believed and the satisfaction of achieving it is its own reward. A French Polish finish is not very hard wearing and is recommended for items that are going to be cared for.
  • Briwax Original is formulated with fast drying, stronger solvents which speed up drying, and also increase the cleaning ability of the wax slightly. This means that it will renovate older dirtier furniture and leave you with the deep grain enriching Briwax shine. Unsealed wooden surfaces should be smooth, dry and clean. Apply Briwax using a lint free cloth or 0000 Steel Wool, thoroughly working the wax into the grain. Once dry, buff to desired finish with a clean soft cloth.
  • This creamy liquid has a very mild abrasive within it which acts like ‘liquid sandpaper’ on finished surfaces, cutting back and cleaning the finish and elevating it to a glossier, brighter finish. It can be used to smooth Cellulose Sanding Sealer prior to applying wax or Friction Polish, or, after allowing a suitable time to dry, on any of the lacquers, Friction Polish, Finishing Oil or Hard Wax Oil. A deep finish can be achieved using Burnishing Cream on a coat of Melamine Lacquer, then a coat of Friction Polish and finally the Burnishing Cream again. Use it sparingly so as not to over lubricate the surface and be sure to shake the bottle before use. It is not advisable to use a lacquer on top of a surface that has had Burnishing Cream used on it.
  • Chestnut Nywebs

    £1.91£16.83
    NyWeb pads are a non-woven nylon webbing with an abrasive – either silicon carbide or aluminium oxide –  embedded into them to give an exactly defined cut.
    • The Green pads are 400 grit
    • The Red pads are 600 grit
    • The Orange pads are 1000 grit
    • The White pads do not contain an abrasive and are thus technically non-abrasive, but the very texture of the pads gives them an incredibly fine – but immeasurable – cut.
    NyWeb is long lasting and economical in use and extremely flexible, able to be moulded to pretty much any shape to get into all those awkward spaces and to not remove any sharp features. In use, as the web wears away, fresh abrasive is exposed to ensure a sharp cut every time. When NyWeb becomes clogged with dust simply beat it against a suitable surface or use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust. NyWeb can be used wet or dry, and the Orange and White are particularly useful for the application of waxes, ensuring a smooth, even coat. Each pad is approx 15 x 21cm.
  • Fine finishing starts with good preparation! Use these mildly abrasive pads after sanding for that final smoothing process to give a near-perfect surface prior to applying any finish. Very long lasting, these pads are also very flexible and do not crumble, thus avoiding any fear of contamination of your work. Exercise care when using these pads with the lathe revolving.
  • A blend of natural plant oils to nourish and protect chopping boards and worktops. It penetrates the wood with no surface film to chip. It has a clear finish to enhance the natural beauty of wood. The Oil contains anti-microbial additives with a slow release formula which provide protection against a wide range of bacteria including E-coli and MRSA. Rustins Chopping Board Oil conforms to The Articles in Contact with Food Regulations.
  • This sanding sealer is designed to raise the grain and make it brittle, it can then be sanded of with fine grit abrasive paper leaving a smooth fine surface to apply finish.
  • Lubricating Wax is specially formulated to lubricate and clean interior tools and machinery to increase their efficiency and keep working parts moving freely. Silicone-free, it is suitable for use on saw blades, cutter blades, machine tables, lathes and planers to increase longevity, and help to reduce rust and corrosion on all bare metal surfaces . Its special properties will also assist in the quick cleaning and easy removal of glue from veneer presses and G-clamps, as well as help to reduce resin build-up from softwood.
  • A refined Beeswax and Citrus Oil polish with pleasant aromatics and emulsified into a ready-to-use paste. For the palest, brightest cabinetry finish offered in our range; a double wax application and polish (min. 24 hours apart) to raw, fine-sanded woodwork would be recommended.
  • Chestnut Liming Wax

    £11.22£14.92
    The white pigment in Liming Wax is  Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) which gives it a brilliant white finish which will perfectly highlight open grain. Use Liming Wax on any open grained timber for a dramatic and striking effect which can be emphasised by using a stain or Ebonising Lacquer first. For an even better result use the Liming Brush first to open up the grain, allowing more Liming Wax to enter; spread the Liming Wax over the whole surface and then wipe off after a few minutes. The Liming Wax will stay in the open grain and the effect will be instantly visible. Whilst Liming Wax is a wax (obviously!), the wax is mainly a carrier for the white pigment. Therefore an overcoat of some kind is needed. WoodWax 22, Microcrystalline Wax, Finishing Oil or Hard Wax Oil are ideal for this and will lock the wax in place whilst keeping it clean and bright.
  • If you need to get away from the smell and flammability of our cellulose based lacquers this is an ideal option. This water based lacquer has virtually no smell and is totally non-flammable. Don’t be fooled though, this product is extremely hard wearing and gives a full gloss finish. Being water based it is slightly slower drying, taking about twenty minutes to be touch dry. If you want to apply a second coat it should be left two hours before doing so, although a wax can be applied if required after about thirty minutes. This product can be sprayed if suitable equipment is available, or can be applied by cloth or brush. We recommend foam brushes for application as this keeps the foaming action of acrylics to a minimum.  
  • Worktop Oil is a unique water-borne blend of natural plant oils and other special ingredients which nourishes and protects all types of timber. It is a quick-drying wooden work surface treatment, leaving a durable and water-resistant seal which is not vulnerable to scratching or chipping. Plant oils used in its formulation originate from sustainable sources. One litre will cover around 13 square metres per coat depending on the absorbency of the wood.
    • Water based & quick drying
    • For all solid wood worktops
    • Low odour
    • Food safe
    • Natural finish
  • Chestnut Mandrels

    £10.10£14.52
    These Mandrels are available separately or come as part of the buffing wheel kit. Both Mandrels are made in the UK and are zinc plated for maximum protection. Due to the limitations of plating a blind hole care should be taken to ensure the tapped thread of the large mandrel stays as dry as possible. The large mandrel is designed to be held in a lathe chuck. It is 25mm in diameter at its widest part, stepped to 18mm with an undercut for smaller chucks. It can be held on either, both will still give plenty of clearance from the chuck. The small mandrel is designed to be held in a jacobs chuck or similar and is especially suited to use with the smaller 4 inch wheels and the Dome Buffs.
  • This water based sanding sealer gets the job done without the smell associated with solvent based sealers and also with no flammability issues – ideal for asthma suffers and anyone with an aversion to solvent based finishes. Applied by cloth, brush or spray (Chestnuts' foam brushes are especially good with this) the sealer dries in about 5 minutes and can be overcoated with most compatible finishes after about 20 minutes although two hours should be left if using Acrylic Lacquer. Acrylic Sanding Sealer sands easily with a fine abrasive and is supplied ready for use.
  • Citrus Burnishing oil can be easily applied and then burnished dry in a matter of minutes, and can be overcoated with waxes or lacquers if you wish. Use multiple coats for a water and oil resistant finish suitable for salad, fruit and snack bowls. Easy to apply; Over 50% Tung Oil; Food Safe when dry; Fresh smell when dry, fading over time; Deeply penetrating and protecting; Will not chip, flake or peel; Naturally water and oil resistant when cured. Supplied in a 500ml (17.6oz) cone top bottle.
  • As the name suggests, the High Gloss variation brings a higher shine to your decorative woodwork . It is  tough, with an additional 'Pow' of shine that suits some lathe projects. Contains a high quantity of carnauba and microcrystalline waxes.   Shiny, tough and exceptionally long lasting. Food and toy safe, too. Supplied in 130g tins.
  • These cotton wheels come  complete with the fixings needed to attach them to the mandrels in the Buffing System. Use Wheel A with Compound 1 for a preparatory cutback Use Wheel B with Compound 2 for an ultra fine surface prior to waxing Use Wheel C with Carnauba Wax Stick, Microcrystalline Wax or Microcrystalline Wax Stick.
  • Chestnut Products’ Microcrystalline Wax is a blend of high quality waxes rich in microcrystalline wax – a wax derived from the petroleum refining process and known for the fineness of its crystals. This is mixed with a special solvent to create a firm wax which, when dry, knits down to form a very dense coating making it very water resistant, meaning that it is ideal for any items that are likely to come into contact with water for short periods of time. Microcrystalline waxes also have a higher melting point than other waxes traditionally used to make polishing waxes, the benefit of which is that repeated handling of items finished in Microcrystalline Wax won’t finger mark in the same way, as the melting point is higher than normal body temperature. Microcrystalline Wax should be used over one of the Chestnut Products’ sanding sealers and allowed to dry (about 20 minutes) before buffing to a shine. For best results apply a very thin coat, spreading the wax evenly over the entire surface. Microcrystalline Wax can also be used on the buffing wheel system. In this situation use the A and B Wheel as normal, then apply the Microcrystalline Wax to the item you are polishing. Allow 20 minutes for the wax to dry then buff and normal using the C Wheel. You can use the same C Wheel for both Microcrystalline Wax  and the Carnuaba Wax Stick Microcrystalline Wax has been tested to the EN71 Part 3 regulations regarding coatings used on toys.
  • Hampshire Sheen - Cellulose Sanding Sealer 500ml is pre-thinned, giving you absolute control of the provided surface. Supplied in 500ml tin.
  • Tung Oil, or Chinese Wood Oil as it’s sometimes called, is a natural oil derived from the seed of the nut of the tung tree. The jury is out as to whether it can spark a nut allergy. Tung Oil air dries to form a tough, hard film that has a fairly strong amber tint. Because it doesn’t have any solvent or driers in it it can take a while to dry, and dependant on conditions this can be up to a week although 48 hours is more common. As with most finishes a thinner coat will dry quicker. Normally applied with a brush or cloth.
  • Use as a wipe on sealer (2 coats) prior to applying High Build Friction polish or Melamine Lacquer. Very quick drying (3-6 minutes).
  • If you’re looking for a finish that won’t change the colour of your timber, won’t overpower the natural beauty of the wood with a high gloss but will still protect the timber and smell nice, well, you’re in the right place! Lemon Oil is a clear, low build finish. By that we mean that it’s a very thin liquid with a very low solids content, so no matter how much you apply it’s not going to build up to a discernible visible film on the surface. Instead it soaks in and seals the surface, offering a level of water resistance and protection against handling. Normally applied with a brush or a cloth it’s very  easy to use and covers well and doesn’t usually show overlaps, so it’s ideal for large areas which often look better without a high gloss. And as you might expect, it has a pleasant lemon aroma too, although this does fade after a while.
  • Gilt Creams are a creamy, waxy paste with metallic flakes and pigments in them, giving a rich, lustrous finish to whatever they are applied to. The can be used for a ‘limed’ effect over a lacquer to give a high contrast effect, or uniformly over a piece and polished to a bright shine once dried. Available in
    • Gold
    • Silver
    • Copper                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
    1. Professional Clear Gloss Lacquer Superb thick, nicely levelling product. Requires fewer coats for a deep, lush shine. Can be mechanically buffed after a few hours.
    2. Professional Clear Satin Lacquer Produces a superb satin finish on most surfaces in just two coats (over sealer) without further work required.
    3. Professional Black Gloss Lacquer Like the Clear Gloss, this black requires fewer coats for a fantastic depth of finish.
    4. Professional Black Satin Lacquer A silky smooth black surface over sealer can be produced in just a couple of coats. Use without sealer to preserve visible grain.
    5. Professional Matt Sanding Sealer An excellent spray-on sealer with plenty of solids providing a super-hard surface for any finish to be applied over the top.
  • Danish Oil is a specially formulated blend of natural and synthetic oils for use on wood products. A very durable penetrating oil suitable for both interior and exterior wood. Excellent heat and water resistance make this a very versatile finishing product.
  • Removal of Plastic Coating from brushes, rollers and application equipment. Also used to thin Plastic Coating when necessary if it is to be sprayed. Also used to thin the product when an opened grained oil type finish is required.
  • Cut’n’Polish is a blend of two waxes with a fine abrasive held in suspension within them. This is a soft wax designed to stay ‘wet’ slightly longer during application, allowing it to lubricate the abrasive to give a very fine cut to the timber and also to collect any dust generated during use and some subsequent sanding, preventing it from entering the workshop atmosphere. On bare wood; sand to 240 grit as normal, apply a coat of Cut’n’Polish with the lathe stopped, then switch on the lathe and buff to a soft sheen whilst smoothing the timber at the same time. On sealed wood apply after the sealer in the same way, polishing to a slightly higher shine. Cut’n’Polish dries almost immediately and can be overcoated with Friction Polish or any Chestnut waxes for a higher shine.
  • WoodWax 22 contains beeswax (for shine) and carnauba wax (for hardness). Blended together in a solvent to produce a soft creamy paste. This makes it very easy to apply over any surface. WoodWax 22 is quick drying enough to be applied onto unsealed wood but works best on one of Chestnuts sanding sealers. If working on the lathe the wax should be applied with the lathe stopped. Apply using a cloth (Safety Cloth or Stockinette works well with this); the wax spreads easily over the surface, after about 20 seconds it starts to drag slightly. This means it is ready to buff up; if you haven’t covered the whole piece by then don’t worry, just take a little more wax from the tin and carry on applying, the wax won’t mind waiting! It’s best to buff WoodWax 22 as soon as you can; that way any surplus wax that might have been applied will be removed, allowing the shine to really show through. If working on the lathe Safety Cloth should be used for the buffing process and let the lathe do the work for you. Off the lathe Safety Cloth or Stockinette can be used. A second or even third coat of wax can be applied if required, leaving about twenty minutes between coats. After three coats the finish can become softer and will mark very easily.
  • Food Safe Finish is a clear, food grade mineral oil. Chestnut use a thin grade of oil to allow it to soak into bare timber which then protects it against water splashes etc whilst not tainting or affecting the food in any way. It dries to a fairly matt finish; it is however ideal to use for wet sanding and when used with a very fine abrasive it can give an exceptionally smooth surface which has its own gentle glow. Apply with a clean cloth or brush direct onto bare wood, up to three coats are recommended. If the oil sits on the surface and won’t soak in it means the timber has absorbed as much as it can and no further coats are needed. Any surplus can be removed with a clean cloth if required. Depending on the way the item is used it might be necessary to top-up the finish, especially if it is washed regularly.
  • Chestnut Finishing Oil is Chestnuts' version of Danish Oil* and uses Tung Oil as its base but with the addition of solvents and driers. This aids the drying of the product and speeds it up dramatically, so that it’s dry within eight hours. It has a pale amber colour and dries to a hard yet flexible film which is very hardwearing and water resistant. For a high gloss finish apply several coats with a light rub down between coats; after 5 or 6 coats a good sheen should be visible. Finishing Oil is normally applied by cloth but on larger areas a brush can be used very successfully.
  • Rustins Danish Oil

    £7.37£12.48
    A unique formulation developed by Rustins that is suitable for all types of wood. It differs from Teak Oil in that it contains special ingredients to give it a low lustre finish. It is an easy to use wipe on finish, which brings out the beauty of the timber and gives a natural, open grained, soft lustrous finish. Ideal for all woods and is excellent on turned woodwork. Danish Oil conforms to The Articles in Contact with Food Regulations and to the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995, BS:EN71 Part 3.
  • End Seal is an emulsified paraffin wax used the seal the ends of freshly cut timber to slow down the drying process and reduce the risk of the timber splitting. It can also be used on work-in-progress that is being left unfinished where there is a risk of the timber splitting. Apply it liberally, normally by brush but it can be sprayed if needed, usually to the smallest surface of the timber which will normally be the end grain where moisture is most likely to escape from. Sealing the surface will encourage the moisture to escape via the larger areas which will result in a slower exit.

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