Sapele Wood Table Finish

[Sadey]

I just purchased an unfinished SAPELE wood table to go on my flybridge settee. What would be the best finish to put on it?

 

[jmooney]

4 coats of Awlspar varnish and 10 coats of Awlbrite clear .

 

[jim rosenthal]

You could look at Awlwood, also. Might be fewer coats.

 

[Sea Horse]

AWLWOOD is by far the best product I’ve ever used. Very easy to apply and stain base coat goes on every half hour. For a high gloss long life finish I’m pretty sold on it. Five gloss coats let dry sand it lightly to remove any dust and apply five more. If possible spray two last coats thinned slightly and never touch it again.

 

[Sadey]

I’m sold on the Awlwood. Problem for me is I’ll have to wait to do it up north. The directions specifically say not to coat in an air-conditioned environment. I live in a high rise. Bummer, I’d like to have it done before I get there.

 

[edward]

Doesn’t the film thickness of the clear determine the performance? Sounds mighty thick ,possible cracking ?

 

[jim rosenthal]

I don't know about the film thickness, but I've had Awlwood on my exterior teak trim for at least three years and it's holding up perfectly. That's on the outside of the boat. I can't imagine how long it would hold up on interior furniture- probably decades.

 

[JD5652]

I'm a BIG FAN of Alwood....

 

[Sadey]

So here is the before. Table is 46”X28”. I’ll post more when it’s done.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

So here is the before. Table is 46”X28”. I’ll post more when it’s done.

From the pictures, it looks like you're finishing it in your jail cell

 

[Sadey]

Funny, it does. It’s our storage unit in our building.

 

[Vincentc]

Getting ready to varnish the handrails and mahogany (meranti) swim platform (custom) and am impressed with the comments regarding Awlwood.
Roughly 3x price of my go to Interlux Schooner varnish, but sounds worth it. It appears I need to use primer and clear or satin. Comments? Thanks

 

[bigbill]

vincent, i used the awlwood on my rails that had not seen varnish in 20 years or so...i am impressed with the way it worked out. better try a spot over your existing varnish, it may bubble...i asked about using it over epifanes on my salon doors and the distributor said no, it wont work

 

[Vincentc]

Thanks Bill, I hadn't thought of that issue.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I put Awlwood over existing varnish and it has done fine. The existing varnish was either Epiphanes or Captain's. (can't recall) Awlwood is far more durable than anything else I've ever used, although I have heard Bristol Finish is also very good. My Awlwood is 3 years old, now, I think.

It IS expensive, but if you value your time at anything, it's well worth it.

 

[Vincentc]

I just completed applying Awlwood primer and 4 coats of Awlwood Gloss over my meranti mahogany swim platform which is coated with 2 part epoxy.
It looks great; however, the application schedule calls for recoats to be within 24 hours of each other.
When I went one morning to apply the 2nd coat of gloss, dew had formed of the surface. I wiped it down and let it dry for a short while, then proceed to apply the next coat.
It started curing almost on contact and left some hazy streaks in a few places.
Otherwise, it looks good. I used a 4" foam roller and a cheap brush to tip and but for the problem with coat 2, worked very well.
Considering the cost of the Awlwood brush cleaner, I chose to use applicators I could throw away rather than clean.

 

[doc g]

Awlbrite is the Awlgrip product to apply over varnish,any in fact I think you have to apply Awlbrite over varnish, I did it on my old boat and never had any issues . You can hot coat as many coats as you want one day without sanding, then sand smooth and apply a couple "glamour" coats, ......Pat

 

[bigbill]

the alwood dealer in new orleans said to use a decent brush and throw it away after each coat, the expensive brushes and the cleaner cost way more than the 6 dollar brush that i throw away after each coat

 

[Vincentc]

The Awlwood Gloss self leveled very well. Little brush tipping needed using a $4 synthetic bristle brush.