Choosing finish for Cumaru table

[rizzoa13]

Hi all I've finally gotten around to shaping and sanding a slab of Cumaru I've had to make a coffee table. It will be down in my finished basement and subjected to some serious swings in temperature as it's near my woodstove. The slab has been there through a year of seasons so should be pretty acclimated. I'd like some help choosing the correct finish for it from some of you with experience finishing oily hardwoods.

I'm looking for a clear as possible finish that will give me decent protection from liquids (mucho beer), a wet look and a satin finish if possible. The table will never see direct sunlight so the coating doesn't needto be UV protective.

I can spray if I have to but my setup is still a work in progress, I've got an apollo 7500qt gun and I'm using a small compressor so it's not ideal.

There are a million resources online and sittin through them is getting tiresome, little help please??

 

[tjbnwi]

I think you're going to end up oiling and polishing. Not many (if any) film build products will stick to the oily exotics.

Tom

 

[rizzoa13]

Ok thats an option i was looking at. Have you tried using a 1lb cut of shellac and then applying a film finish? Thats something else that gets thrown around often but I'm kind of skeptical.

Can I get decent moisture protection from an oil? I can gaurantee my 1 year old will spill over one of our drinks and dont want that to destroy the table.

 

[tjbnwi]

Ok thats an option i was looking at. Have you tried using a 1lb cut of shellac and then applying a film finish? Thats something else that gets thrown around often but I'm kind of skeptical.

Can I get decent moisture protection from an oil? I can gaurantee my 1 year old will spill over one of our drinks and dont want that to destroy the table.

No, on the shellac. I have some Ipe cut offs and shellac. Guess I'll have to give it a try. If it sticks now, no guarantee it will stick in 6 months.

At least 2 coats of exterior grade oil, 3 would be better. Work it in well. I do like the Surfix system.

Tom

 

[leakyroof]

I use Epifanes Varnish in both Gloss and Satin on Teak without any issues so far. I've also used it on Padauk and Afromosia[ Teak Substitute].  I've used Shellac on the Padauk to seal in the red/orange color so it didn't run onto or into any wood that I may have built next to the Padauk when applying a film finish of either oil based or waterbased. 
However, an oiled finish really looks great on certain woods. Try a scrap piece of your Cumaru and make up your mind that way for the final finish.