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Topic: Walnut Finish (Read 1577 times) previous topic - next topic

Walnut Finish

Does any one know what product FT uses for the walnut wood finish on our 1997 U295 ? We bought raw, unfinished Walnut sheets and trim to wane's coat the lower walls. I want the finish to be the same.
I was told it is a oil finish only.
Thanks
Chris

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #1 –
Sherwin Williams sanding sealer is what David Flanagan at FOT told us.  We used it on a TV cabinet mod and a bookshelf and it was a match.

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #2 –
Thank You

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #3 –
When FT made a table top for me, all they used was sanding sealer (not sure the brand) - all coaches of your era were done in that fashion

Buy some sanding sealer at local home center and do a test

or call James Triana at FT or David Flanagan, but that is the answer they will give you.

BTW, had to have the table top refinished and then finally went with a different finish.  the sanding sealer looks great, but has not ability to stand up to any kind of abus - like on a dining room table top that is also the landing area for groceries, etc.

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #4 –
Quote from: gracerace –
Does any one know what product FT uses for the walnut wood finish on our 1997 U295 ? We bought raw, unfinished Walnut sheets and trim to wane's coat the lower walls. I want the finish to be the same.
I was told it is a oil finish only.
Thanks
Chris
I added a couple of pieces of raw walnut for a monitor arm support and tried a couple of different colors of oil before I settled on one. Try different oils on a scrap of wood.  Pretty easy to match them up. I use Old English to keep the interior looking good now.

Pierce

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #5 –
Try a search. There have been some pretty in depth threads into

the recommended products for the coach. Had friends that mixed

Old English Scratch Cover and Lemon oil for their walls. You make

it as dark as you desire by more scratch cover in a bottle of lemon oil.

Have fun with your project, Careful not to get it on anything that will stain

and throw rags away, outside the coach.

Carter-

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Texas Guy –
Try a search. There have been some pretty in depth threads into

the recommended products for the coach. Had friends that mixed

Old English Scratch Cover and Lemon oil for their walls. You make

it as dark as you desire by more scratch cover in a bottle of lemon oil.

Have fun with your project, Careful not to get it on anything that will stain

and throw rags away, outside the coach.

Carter-

I was messing with Old English scratch remover, used that stuff for years in my Van Shop. It was too brown. The walnut finish is more reddish. I have one sheet of 1/4" FT 4x8 pre finished, but not enough to do all the wanes coating around.Had to buy two 1/8" 4x8's. $84.00 a sheet.
Thanks for the input

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #7 –
Try Watco Danish Oil finish on a sample.  It is a catalyzed oil finish that comes in several walnut varieties from natural to black walnut.  Light or medium is a good starting point.  Different shades can be mixed.

Wipe on the oil finish, a wet layer. Let it sit for a half hour. Wipe on more. Let it sit for another twenty minutes or so and then wipe it off dry.  Then wipe it again dry with paper towel.  Let it cure over night.  Do it all again. When you wipe on the second coat lightly wet sand it with 600 grit wet or dry paper.  Wipe it all off until it is dry.  Let it cure over night.  It is a very nice, low sheen, tough finish.  Pretty much fool proof.  Pretty easy to adjust for color by mixing other colors for more red for example.

Sanding sealer is a very soft material, really not suitable as a finish.  FT may use this as an undercoat as do many furniture and cbinet shops but the finish coats are much more likely a catalyzed lacquer based on the durability of the finish.

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #8 –
Foretravel uses Sherman Williams products for their finish repair work.  The actual finish after the sanding sealer is a high build lacquer that is sprayed on according to David.  When they are trying to match older faded walnut, they will sometimes use a Sherman Williams antique English Oak stain to adjust the color of the new wood to the old. 
What they recommend for keeping the wood looking good is a product called Wood Doctor--- we use it and the wife loves it.  They sell it, and it is also available from other sources.
The wood they used on the older coaches was American Black Walnut that came from a supplier in Louisiana.  That supplier is no longer there, so they have changed sources.  Finding Walnut of the quality Foretravel used can be difficult.  I have discovered that Peruvian Walnut is a very close grain and color match.  In addition, it tends to have less sap wood (lighter colored areas).  It can be found at Houston Hardwoods.  They have it in stock from time to time.
 

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #13 –

Lots of folks prefer Howard's  Feed n Wax for wood.  We do. A much more appealing result for us than Wood Doctor and at a fraction of the cost.
Prep for storage--Zep Wood Doctor

Amazon.com: Howard FW0016 Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner, 16-Ounce:...

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