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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
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

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.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #2 –
Thank You
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

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.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

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
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

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
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348

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.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

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.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Kemahjohn –

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.

Is this the stuff?

Howard Restore-A-Finish White Water Ring Remover for Wood Tables and Cabinets
1986 36' Grand Villa OREG converted to 7.3 IDI diesel

Re: Walnut Finish

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Flopsie –
Is this the stuff?
Not sure, we use "Wood Doctor" made by ZEP in a spray can. Works great, no obnoxious smell.  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

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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Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN