Slight imperfections which you hope will be covered by the product used, will be emphasised and the more highly polished the article becomes sanding rings, chips, cracks and any other faults will become more serious.

• Make sure your tool work is the best you can do.
• Try another very fine cut with freshly sharpened tools before using abrasive paper.
• When satisfied with your tool work, if necessary, sand lightly with the finest grit size that will improve or even out the surface.
  (e.g. do not start with 100 grit if 240 grit will do the job)
• Usually with spindle turning and good tool work, using 180, 240, 320 grit papers will produce a good surface
• Try to limit the amount of sanding as too much can remove any fine details which, if turned correctly with sharp tools will not require sanding.
• For bowl and disc turnings you may need to start with 120 grit.

Use a slow lathe speed, light pressure, keep the paper moving, very carefully, to retain edges of turning.
Finally sand with the grain where possible.

HEAT - Do not allow any heat build-up when sanding as this will not only burn your fingers but will quickly crack your project, particularly end grain areas.
Therefore useful grit sizes for sanding woodturnings are 120, 180, 240, 320, 400.

Stopping the lathe between grit sizes and sanding with the grain before using the next finer grit, will help to reduce sanding scratches.
Try to reach a standard of turning so that 180, 240, 320 will be the grit sizes you mainly use.
400 is used mainly for finishing off soft woods.

For BOWL and DISC turning, 120 grit may be needed for some woods.
For cutting back or flatting back finishes, use 600 or finer Silicone Carbide Wet and Dry paper or fine 000 or 0000 Steel Wool.

Bowls or discs can be sanded quickly and sanding-ring free, by using a 2" soft foam pad on an arbor with 2" sanding discs - grits 120, 180, 240 and 400 are most useful .
As this is power sanding, if not used lightly and carefully the shape of your article can be changed very quickly.

Now you have a near-perfect turning and surface to finish.

You need to choose which of the many finishes will suit the purpose for which your turning is designed.

Rustin's Shellac Sanding Sealer - Used mainly to seal the turning before waxing.

Apply with the lathe stopped, with brush or rag, wipe off any excess, start the lathe and burnish dry.
Leave at least 15 minutes or for preference allow one or two hours to harden.
Cut back with 000 or 0000 fine steel wool.
Apply a little paste wax and polish at slow speed with a soft cloth.

You can also apply Rustin's Danish Oil over Sanding Sealer, particularly on porous woods, the colour will however, be different from when Danish Oil is applied to the bare wood.
Apply sealer, lathe stopped, allow to dry, cut back and then apply Danish Oil with a rag.
After wiping off any excess, burnish dry with a soft cloth.

Rustin's Danish Oil is an excellent product for use on woodturnings.
It is very easy and quick to apply, is not affected by dust and greatly enhances the colour of the wood.

Apply a liberal coat with a brush or rag whilst the work is on the lathe (lathe stopped).
After a few minutes. wipe off any excess, then re-start the lathe and burnish dry with a soft cloth.
Depending on the wood, you can repeat this three or four times at four to eight hour intervals or longer, cutting back in between coats with 0000 wire wool.

The result is a hard, durable and water-resistant seal and a natural low lustre finish.

Oil Sanding

Another method of using Rustin's Danish Oil is to apply liberally whilst the lathe is stopped.

Wipe off most of the excess, but while the oil is still wet re-start the lathe at low speed and sand the wood using 320 grit wet and dry paper. This will improve the surface particularly of porous woods.
Stop the lathe and apply more oil.
Remove excess then buff dry with lathe running.

The best feature of Rustin's Danish Oil finish is that it is very easy to use and gives a natural satin finish that will not peel, crack or chip.

When used on Salad Bowls and Domestic Articles it seals the wood and makes it water resistant.
When the article is hand washed an application of salad oil or cooking oil on the inside, will keep it in good condition.

Rustin's Plastic Coating is a two-part cold cure lacquer. Easy to mix and apply.
Available in Clear, and White. It can be burnished to a mirror-like gloss or rubbed down to a satin finish with fine steel wool and wax.

Using Rustin's Plastic Coating for Woodturnings

Mix as per instructions - 1 part hardener to four parts plastic coating by volume.

With the turned article still mounted in the lathe (lathe stopped) turn over by hand and apply an even coat of plastic coating. Allow to dry for approximately one hour. As soon as touch-dry apply second , third and fourth coats, depending on wood surface you are working on, at approximately hourly intervals.

It is important to apply all coats on the same day.

Leave now to harden for a minimum of 24 hours, longer is better.

When hard, the final coat should be carefully rubbed back and should have no shiny spots.
Use 600 grit wet and dry paper or 0000 wire wool.
This can be done on the bench or with the lathe switched on, but running at slowest speed or turned over by hand.

Be careful not to rub through the coating, particularly on edges.
Use a very light touch for this stage - just enough to produce a smooth flat surface.

Burnishing to a high shine is done by using a damp cloth. moistened with water and again either on the bench or in the lathe (slow speed), apply burnishing cream.
Start with firm pressure, reduce to light touch as the matt plastic surface becomes gloss. Keep the cloth moving and stop frequently to inspect.
Finally buff with a soft dry cloth to a beautiful mirror gloss.

Satin. matt or oil finishes can also be obtained with Rustin's Plastic Coating (see Manufacturer's instruction sheet).

Many waxes are available and a simple paste wax (non-silicone type) usually a combination of beeswax and carnauba wax is suitable for polishing over a sealed surface.

The above notes are supplied by :

Len Smith of The WOODSMITH Pty Ltd.   www.thewoodsmith.com.au