What's the best super-clear varnish for Birch Plywood?

[Police State]

I have made some kitchen cabinets out of very good quality Birch Plywood and I want to keep the surfaces as near to the original wood colour as possible. I tried some Ronseal 'Clear' varnish on a sample, but it goes a couple of shades yellow/golden. It goes too far for my liking, so does anyone know of a very clear clear (satin) varnish that will not yellow the wood? is there such a thing?

[Wozy68]

Police State said:

I have made some kitchen cabinets out of very good quality Birch Plywood and I want to keep the surfaces as near to the original wood colour as possible. I tried some Ronseal 'Clear' varnish on a sample, but it goes a couple of shades yellow/golden. It goes too far for my liking, so does anyone know of a very clear clear (satin) varnish that will not yellow the wood? is there such a thing?

Nope. Its as more the ply changing colour than what your putting on it.. ....

[mart 63]

Water based varnish doesn't change the colour as much as oil based varnish.

[Little Lofty]

If you rub the ply with a damp cloth it will change colour and that's just water. I always use this on my oak doors that I fit, its nice but does darken them slightly.
http://www.thedecoratingcentre.co.uk/johnstones-wo...

[DrDeAtH]

Try Bona varnish. It's water based, has good reviews. I did a parquet floor with it with very good results

[Police State]

Wozy68 said:

Police State said:

I have made some kitchen cabinets out of very good quality Birch Plywood and I want to keep the surfaces as near to the original wood colour as possible. I tried some Ronseal 'Clear' varnish on a sample, but it goes a couple of shades yellow/golden. It goes too far for my liking, so does anyone know of a very clear clear (satin) varnish that will not yellow the wood? is there such a thing?

Nope. Its as more the ply changing colour than what your putting on it.. ....

I was anticipating a slightly darker shade, and understand that as soon as a liquid hits the wood, it will at the least, change shade; but this is 'silver/grey' birch and the clear varnish has made is go yellow; as per cheap plywood, which my not so cheap birch is in danger of looking like.

It may be my memory playing tricks on me, but I felt sure that I have seen silver/grey birch ply (with varnish) being just that on some lounge cabinets somewhere in a London store.

[ecotec]

I would have thought that spray Lacquer could be just the ticket.

like: http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/nitroc...


Any pictures of the cabinets? Have been thinking about doing similar

[Simpo Two]

Aerosols can give a great finish but you'll need an awful lot to do large flat areas nicely.

[Neil - YVM]

Wozy68 said:

Nope. Its as more the ply changing colour than what your putting on it.. ....

This^.


Try an oil/wax finish, can look far more natural than an varnish / lacquer finish.

We use an oil / wax product from Osmo

http://www.osmouk.com/sitechapter.cfm?chapter=76&a...

[Police State]

Wozy68 said:

Police State said:

I have made some kitchen cabinets out of very good quality Birch Plywood and I want to keep the surfaces as near to the original wood colour as possible. I tried some Ronseal 'Clear' varnish on a sample, but it goes a couple of shades yellow/golden. It goes too far for my liking, so does anyone know of a very clear clear (satin) varnish that will not yellow the wood? is there such a thing?

Nope. Its as more the ply changing colour than what your putting on it.. ....

I was anticipating a slightly darker shade, and understand that as soon as a liquid hits the wood, it will at the least, change shade; but this is 'silver/grey' birch and the clear varnish has made is go yellow; as per cheap plywood, which my not so cheap birch is in danger of looking like.

It may be my memory playing tricks on me, but I felt sure that I have seen silver/grey birch ply (with varnish) being just that on some lounge cabinets somewhere in a London store.

[loughran]

I've used a finish on pale timbers that is a 'varnish' but had a transparent white pigment and gave a limed/pale finish. I think is was Swedish, possibly Osmo. Sorry to be vague, I'll try and get up to speed tomorrow.

[Turn7]

I love a bit of Birch ply....

Perosnally, I like it with a half wash type finish, shows the grain a treat. I think any varnish will head down the yellow spectrum as the timber is naturally quite pale.

As suggested, either a wax of one of the Osmo products, but I think they will still yellow it tbh.

[Police State]

Turn7 said:

I love a bit of Birch ply....

Perosnally, I like it with a half wash type finish, shows the grain a treat. I think any varnish will head down the yellow spectrum as the timber is naturally quite pale.

As suggested, either a wax of one of the Osmo products, but I think they will still yellow it tbh.

Yes, a half wash finish is what I am after. But I was led to believe that I had to varnish it as it was in a kitchen environment. I am an utter novice at this lark, but just thought it would be fun to build my own kitchen. so fellas, keep the suggestions coming, all welcome.

[singlecoil]

As the other skilled guys have pointed out, the darkening effect will happen whatever varnish you use. When I was making kitchens I used lots of birch ply and I used to use Ronseal water based clear varnish, I don't think they do that one anymore, but B&Q do something very similar. Use the matt version unless you want the brush strokes to be visible.

[AlexJ12]

Osmo is great product and they also do the tints which will give you the white wash look also Woca Oil do white as well

Bona also do what's called Naturale which is waterbase but it a Matt finish and spitefully expensive

Blanchon do some interesting colours to might be worth doing a search on them.

I have recently had a lot of people having there floors finished in a product from Junckers called 'Pre Lak White' takes 4-5 coats to get it to where most people want it with 2 tops coats of Lacquer to finish.



Good luck whichever you go with it..

Edited by AlexJ12 on Sunday 12th October 22:49

[loughran]

singlecoil said:

As the other skilled guys have pointed out, the darkening effect will happen whatever varnish you use. When I was making kitchens I used lots of birch ply and I used to use Ronseal water based clear varnish, I don't think they do that one anymore, but B&Q do something very similar. Use the matt version unless you want the brush strokes to be visible.

Not making kitchen anymore Singlecoil ?

[singlecoil]

loughran said:

singlecoil said:

As the other skilled guys have pointed out, the darkening effect will happen whatever varnish you use. When I was making kitchens I used lots of birch ply and I used to use Ronseal water based clear varnish, I don't think they do that one anymore, but B&Q do something very similar. Use the matt version unless you want the brush strokes to be visible.

Not making kitchen anymore Singlecoil ?

Nope, I've retired from that, and am now back on the guitars full time.

[Esseesse]

I found someone who will make me kitchen carcasses from birch plywood.

I've been thinking about this too, as they would be supplied unfinished. Depending on why you're using birch ply you may think this is a waste of time, but has anyone considered using melamine faced birch ply?

[singlecoil]

Esseesse said:

has anyone considered using melamine faced birch ply?

I think it would be worthwhile for shelves and cabinet bases, but to avoid having the varnish the necessarily rounded edges it would really need to be edged with hardwood.

[EggsBenedict]

I had pretty good results with Dulux diamondglaze clear varnish. sounds obvs, but you need to do several really thin coats, not few thick ones - that also does minimise the colour change. That said, it's the age that changes the colour to an extent. If you've ever tried to replace a pine floorboard in a Victorian house and then match the colour sanded back on the floor, you'll know this.