What is the best finish for walnut?

[Mark]

I am making an entertainment table for the new HDTV I got and was planning on using American Black Walnut. I have not used Walnut before and wondered what looked the best without getting too dark?

Any Ideas?

 

[Taggart]

When we were in our starter house, I think we had a couple bookshelf fixtures in walnut. This is going back a few years...

Anyway, I put a clear satin finish on those and they were fairly dark naturally. They looked great and when we sold the house, the buyers specified that they wanted them to stay.

Best of luck with your entertainment table.

 

[johnk]

The simplest is to use an oil/varnish (homemade danish oil) consisting of equal parts of varnish or poly varnish, boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. Apply heavily, let set for 15-20 minutes and then wipe dry. Let dry overnight and then apply a second coat. If you want the "feel" of the wood to remain use a rag, let set and wipe dry. Then give it 2-4 days before using. If you want a smoother look and feel, apply the second coat with 4/0 steel wool or 320 grit wet & dry sand paper, let set and wipe lightly across the grain.

A somewhat more durable finish is to use a thinned wiping varnish. Again make it yourself by mixing varnish and mineral spirits in equal proportions. Wipe on 3-4 coats using the standard wipe on technique. If the walnut has been steamed, then start with a quick coat of BLO followed by a coat of amber shellac. Then apply the 3-4 coats of wiping varnish.

Walnut looks best with either and in-the-wood finish like the oil/varnish or a relatively thin film finish IMO. I would not recommend more than two full strength coats or four wiped on coats.