chansen
Shohin
Here is a small stand I'm making from some walnut from a tree struck by lightning in our front yard a few years ago. It's a simple design with dimensions approx. 9 x 13 x 1.5 and biscuit joinery for strength. I've done cabinetry work before but this is my first bonsai stand and while the quality is not perfect I think it's quite good.
It's sanded to 320 grit but I'm not certain of the best way to finish it. The two wood finishes I typically use are a hand-rubbed clear laquer and a tung oil. Both give a satin surface but the lacquer is going to be thicker and smoother while the tung oil will be thinner and will allow pores to still be seen. Opinions are appreciated! Also up for debate is the option of staining it darker. The varnish will darken it quite a bit but it may still not be as dark as many stands typically used.
I would like to eventually make stands for sale and am excited to improve my skills and try new techniques and designs.
Nice work! I just finished a 6' diameter round kitchen table for my wife (Christmas present). I finished the table with a wash coat of de-waxed shellac, then three coats of General Finishes High Performance (it's a poly-acrylic). High Performance is water based and low VOC, which I wanted since it's in the kitchen. I sanded to 320, and then lightly sanded after each coat dried. I'm going to go over it with fine steel wool and a wax for a low-sheen polish. Not saying tung oil is a bad route to go, but if you wanted something different that's a good way too.
I've got a ton of scrap from the kitchen table and plan on making a few stands. Thanks for the motivation .