Mahogany and Walnut Finish

Please be aware our finish can not be compared to the plastic looking finishes often seen on the high street which invariably are polyurethane based (which requires none of the processes listed below). Our finishes take approximately 2 weeks to complete by hand and showcase the grain and character as is fitting for a fine timber such as mahogany.

You do not need to bees wax 3 times a year as you do with a polished wax finish in order to maintain the look from new.

Our Mahogany and Walnut finish process.

  1. Sanded over 3 grades to 0000 wire wool stringently oil free
  2. Stained accordingly for our Mahogany and Walnut finish
  3. Furniture grade Clay washed this fills the grain enabling even application of lacquers later in the process.
  4. De nibbed with 0000 wire wool
  5. Wiped with thinner using washed cotton cloth to ensure there is no oil or silicone contamination
  6. Step 3 repeated
  7. Step 4 repeated
  8. Step 5 repeated
  9. First application of highest quality Japanese (clearwater) Nippon nitrocellulose lacquer. This choice of lacquer is v important as cheap lacquers revealing an amber colour in the tin given 10 years or more can yellow and crack over time and give a slightly plastic look which you don't want!
  10. Allowed to harden fully over 24 hrs, wiped with thinner using washed cotton cloth to ensure there is no oil or silicone contamination.
  11. Step 9 repeated
  12. Step 10 repeated
  13. Step 9 repeated
  14. Step 10 repeated
  15. Step 9 repeated with final colour correction requiring a keen eye and judgment.
  16. Step 10 repeated
  17. Polish with rottenstone suspended fine particle liquid abrasive using wool or cotton pads lubricated further with water.
  18. Left for 5 days to fully harden before foam and card protection.

Total time taken 13 days 20 step process

This finish gives depth and clarity to the grain and character for which Swietenia strain Mahogany is regarded over all others. In your home you will see on a repeated basis different grain and character under different light conditions. On our bed we get deep dark chocolate streaks at the top of the footboard under a dimmed light bulb at night. In daylight even the pattern of grain disappears into another and changes to dramatically different colours. Its this sort of character that the highest quality wax finish regardless of number of applications and time taken is incapable of repeating.