Favorite Woodturning Finishes

Ernie Conover shares his favorite wood finishes for woodturning and how to apply them to different types of projects.
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[@kenvasko2285]

Why haven't I seen this video sooner in my turning career? Good job Ernie. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences.

[@bubba8]

What an accomplished craftsman and articulate gentleman is Ernie!

[@attilakovacs5803]

Dear Ernie! Fantastic tutorial, just what a beginner hobby woodturner/luthier needs. Your deep knowledge and great experience really shines in this video. I absolutely love your practical, economical, no-fuss approach. At the same time it's clear that you strive for no less than absolute perfection. Congratulations and thank you! 👍❤️

[@georgiannburdette1256]

Perfection as always..Thanks for sharing Ernie!

[@glencrandall7051]

Great finishing tips Ernie. Thank you for sharing.

[@angusestcourt7120]

Hi Ernie, thank you, your tutorial was perfect and delivered with the obvious experience, i also loved the relaxed way you discuss various points. thank you

[@megatamako]

Thanks Ernie, I can tell you have a whole lot of good knowledge from a lifetime of experience. I'm a novice woodturner, just purchased a new lathe today. I plan to watch all your videos. I am now a follower!

[@garyknable1155]

More knowledge in that mans pinky than I'll ever know. Great job Ernie

[@westonsantiago9828]

Instablaster

[@monopinion8799]

Brilliant man. Learned knowledge over years of experience. We need to tap his brain for decades just to get a portion of his wisdom. We are lucky to learn from him. Thank you so much.🙏

[@billmarcus7257]

Absolutely stunning piece!!! Great info on oil rag safety!!!

[@robphone4895]

As always, very usefull and very well explained. Thank you for sharing this!

[@robertbourke7935]

Many thanks Ernie. Excellent video

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Thanks for sharing that, well done!

[@ACKSWOODPASTE]

To catch you up to date Ernie, Acks abrasive and polishing wax is now number one in the USA with shellac underneath as a sealer. Try it, you will change your mind.we add several ounces of carnuba wax flakes to our oil and bees wax combo!! 100 percent food safe.

[@stevefromlondon9175]

Thank you so much making & sharing your work I have learnt so much from you Regards Steve UK London

[@dtork47]

Thanks for the very helpful tips, stay safe!

[@LetsFigureThisOut]

I'm just getting started and this video really helped.

[@tomc0240]

That walnut oil fixed up my chapped hands. Thanks for the tip!

[@anthonygreen9609]

Thank you so much. You are an inspiration.

[@roberthortin5357]

Great work. Thank you!

[@johnnydutcher208]

Helpful info and educational! Thank you!

[@davidlang4442]

Use co2 blown into your waterlox before capping your can. Another less expensive method is to take a deep breath, hold until you need to breath, then blow into the can , quickly cap the can after. Old time painters used this to stop paint skin over in the closed can of paint, varnish, etc. I have done this for years and it works. The method greatly reduces the amount of oxygen in the stored can of whatever.

[@billy19461]

Thanks for the information!

[@aneerenb]

Thank you very much for that. Especially the part on shellac :)

[@daveklein2826]

Ernie as a fellow Clevelander. I agree that Waterlux is awesome. Thank you the education

[@MuninWoodturning]

Thanks for sharing. Good tips

[@Grumpycat0405]

Thank you!♥️

[@MitchX]

Thanks Ernie, a lovely simple explanation of those finishes.

[@satanspacemakers_theoldfar376]

Pity you can't keep Ernie in the cupboard and when your not sure "bring out Ernie and solve your problem"! Keep going Ernie.

[@turnintoo7887]

Thanks Ernie

[@donmiller8712]

Thank you sir! What a geat video.

[@jimlight6952]

Enjoyed the education and appreciate you sharing your knowledge. I have hand carved wooden bowls for several years and originally used walnut oil as it is food safe and will not turn rancid. The lasy couple of years I have changed to Butcher block oil. It is also food safe as it is used daily in butcher shops. I like it a little better than walnut oil. Just another option for your followers to try. It can be found in many big box stores and most hardware stores. Jim

[@dialtonedude]

I use 'Stop Loss Bags' to keep the finish fresh. The proprietary rubber funnel helps to do the transfer.

[@Splash111]

Thank you sir for explaining everything. New subscriber her. I look forward to your videos. Cheers !

[@enzof9679]

Ernie, use a plastic water bottle to store the oil finish in and squeeze out the air. It works great to keep oils from solidifying.

[@fionam3554]

or you can drop glass marbles into the can or bottle. they displace the oxygen in the can.. Use some oil, drop a couple in.

[@nealramsey4439]

I used coconut oil quite a bit for food safe items.

[@beckytaylor4318]

Yes this guy knows a lot of stuff

[@DancingFox6]

I’m going to try the Waterlox and sandpaper method on some spalted wood that has tiny voids. Looks like this might smooth that out. Thank you for an informative video.

[@DancingFox6]

P.s. I’ve also had to throw away more oil finishes than I’ve used 😁

[@fancy39]

Nice vid

[@waynewelshans1172]

I am a big fan of Mr. Conover's teachings. Is there any place I can purchase one of his pieces? I'd be honored to own one.

[@adamdanielwoodturning6571]

wow!

[@jmal3922]

Hey Ernie just curious what finishes don’t like, I have used hard wax oil on several pieces and have good luck with that and I’m curious to your opinion on the hard wax oil

[@joenic4303]

Thank you. Ammonia is getting harder to find and have to order online.

[@bobbergman9467]

Anny tips on finishing red cedar too keep the color? Walnut oil finish seems to turn the red to brown.

[@ruckmens]

Would methylated spirits be good to mix with the shellac?

[@conoverworkshops1486]

Dear Ruckmens, Methylated spirits is another name for denatured alcohol, so it would be fine.

[@bigkahuna8338]

Am I the only one who wants to invite Ernie over for dinner? He seems like such a lovely guy...and I would pick his brain about wood (during dessert; don't want to be rude)

[@kennethnuttle7251]

Two comments. First just an FYI and that is that shellac has been around for a lot longer than 150 years. Actually the Egyptians used it. Second, walnut oil is fantastic but the variety you get in the grocery store is a problem for people with allergies to tree nuts. It could cause an anaphylactic reaction sending them to the hospital or worse. I use heat treated walnut oil as the proteins which cause the anaphylactic reaction are converted to a non harmful form. Great video though I use all my f these finishes.

[@conoverworkshops1486]

Thanks for this very informative comment it is excellent information to know for I have a grandson with a nut allergy. Do you thermally treat grocery oil yourself in a double boiler or do you buy it? Mike Mahoney makes thermally treated walnut oil. Search Mahoney's Oil and you will find it.

[@pensbykenz6630]

What alcohol do you use

[@user-yj2ff3po1l]

what type alchol

[@richstewart1]

Can you put carnuba wax over BLO?

[@baggetja1234]

Yup

[@MegaReinart]

whats shlack? could any1 tell me the ingredients of it, couldnt understand from the video

[@WoodworkersJournal]

Shellac is a common, long-used woodworking (among other things) finish made from resin excreted by lac bugs and usually mixed with ethyl alcohol.

[@MegaReinart]

@@WoodworkersJournal thanks for the answer

[@baggetja1234]

@@MegaReinart shellac is what coats m&ms to keep them from melting in your hand

[@tailher1]

Stop Loss bags, Ernie.

[@jonlanier_]

In the United States, all finishes are food safe once they become inert. It's the law. When we say food safe, we mean easily repairable by the owner.

[@brayswoodturning5036]

It wouldn't be food safe for someone with nut allergies.

[@WoodworkersJournal]

The risk of an allergic reaction to walnut oil is not zero, but it is extremely low. Walnut oils are treated to remove the proteins from the nut that cause most allergic reactions.

[@groovecrusader4924]

Seriously concerned watching him run the lathe with a long sleeved shirt. Very high quality work regardless