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Finishing quilted maple

1K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  MPython 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey forum!

First time posting here. I just want to put it out there that I'm very very very new to woodworking and that the number of tools I have at my disposal is very limited.

I'm trying to make a jewelry box for my girlfriend for her birthday and I'd like to use a piece of maple that I found laying around in a huge pile that would've been used as firewood. It's got really nice quilted pattern and I'd like to see if theres a way I can maintain that look when it's done but while the same time keeping the organic shape of the wood itself.

Initially theres a lot of splinters on the wood so I'm trying to get rid of them by sanding them out but I noticed that when I sand them the quilted pattern goes away. Is that natural? How would I bring the quilted pattern back?

Wood Pollinator Butterfly Arthropod Trunk


Brown Wood Flooring Floor Beige


For tools all I have is a bandsaw, a belt sander and a dremel. If theres any other tools/equipment i would need please let me know! Thank you!
 

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#4 ·
Ah okay! I'll def work on that then! Is there any finishes you guys recommend for curly maple? I'm actually wondering if theres a finish out there that has little to no coloration at all but can also give some sort of shine to it.

I'm actually planning to trying to maintain the shape of the wood itself as much as possible so I'm trying to use the bandsaw as sparingly as possible. I usually sand my wood from 80 to 800 and then begin applying my finishes to continue going to to 3000 grit sand paper.

Would you guys recommend a scraper for this application? I'm looking into getting a planer because I really like the smoothness of the wood after its planed and it something really hard to replicate with sanding.

I'll let you guys know how it goes! Thanks!
 
#10 ·
Hmmm I'd prioritize bringing out the figure of the wood as much as possible so if a water based finish wouldn't do it then I'd be okay with the color changing. I was just wondering if it was possible to have both.

As for the box, I would cut this in half lengthwise, hollow/carve out the interior and have the jewelry be inside. I was thinking of either using hinges for opening/closing or create grooves so it could slide ooen/close with magnets embedded into the wood to keep them closed.

Not really sure if this is too ambitious of a project but I'm always opening for ideas/recommendations.
 
#11 ·
If you have not done so, do a net search "dyeing quilted maple" to see the many ways of bringing out the figure of the wood. None will keep the wood "white" - just the fact that all the types of finishes that do this have at least some yellow to them. When you find something you like, post a link to it here and ask for help. Try "finishing quilted curly maple" as well.

It really comes down to what color you want and the level of grain enhancement.
 
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