What kind of finish is this?

[grandmainger]

Just curious really... This Weber Big Sky has a solid spruce top (which I'd expect would show a lined grain), yet the finish makes it appear almost curly maple-like...

http://www.fqms.com/images/Weber/weber_bigsky2.jpg

Any ideas how they did that? Is it just a case of "twirling" the varnish during application?

[mandoryan]

my guess is that it is a lacquer finish with the stain absorbing differently on the spruce in patches, making it look somewhat curly in appearance.

[Gavin Baird]

Could be Bear Claw Sitka....g

[Stonefly]

Mandoryan has it right. It is a nitrocellulose finish, and I hand rub that particular stain into the wood. It is our translucent walnut color. Each piece of spruce (and maple for that matter) absorbs the stain differently when it's rubbed, producing a very nice aged or weathered look to the color.

[grandmainger]

Mandoryan has it right. #It is a nitrocellulose finish, and I hand rub that particular stain into the wood. #It is our translucent walnut color. Each piece of spruce (and maple for that matter) absorbs the stain differently when it's rubbed, producing a very nice aged or weathered look to the color.
Well congratulations, it looks yummy!
I'm always a little sad that highly-figured woods are not suitable for tops... This one kind of compensates... :cool:

[TommyK]

"highly-figured woods are not suitable for tops"
Not to upset the apple cart of tradition but, I've heard this before. Is this a known fact supported by experimentation? Or is this a long held belief that no one has thought to prove otherwise?
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Anybody wanna play Columbus?
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[Jim M.]

I'd say this redwood is pretty highly figured:



(courtesy of Mr. Bussman)

[Jim M.]

And this Ron Cole redwood top: