This project consists of 3 walnut panels, each measuring 11 3/4" wide by 48" long, and just about 1" thick. They will be mounted in a stainless steel frame in the client's home - so I needed a high quality finish all around the panels, not just the carved side.
I wanted to finish the project with something that would really highlight the flow and the ripples in the beautiful walnut lumber - but also have some film protection. So naturally I went with General Finishes.
I applied a coat of Seal-A-Cell on all surfaces - starting with a penetrating finish that would really show off the warm tones in the grain right from the start, and allow me to fill in the pores a little.
After that, I applied 4 total coats of Arm-R-Seal satin to build protective layers, without having a super glossy or overly shiny look while still letting your attention focus on the lumber. I sanded between each coat with a 320 grit foam sanding pad. After everything was dry I rubbed it with #0000 steel wool to just slightly bring the shine down.
I feel this finishing technique (but really, General Finishes products in general) really lets the walnut do the talking, and ensures that there's no plastic feel to it - but there's still a durable, protective finish that's easy to clean up.
