Wood wrist rest!

[Eziak]

So I'm getting ready to make a wood wrist rest out of Walnut and Maple wood. Something custom fit for my Novatouch. I was wondering what other people have used as a finish on their wooden wrist rests? I'm currently leaning towards Arm-R-Seal from General Finishes as it's a pretty easy wipe on varnish. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

[nubbinator]

I prefer an oil finish and or wax finish.  Arm-R-Seal is fantastic, one of my favorites, but PU can make your palms all sweaty when you rest them on it.

[tigersharkdude]

I prefer an oil finish and or wax finish.  Arm-R-Seal is fantastic, one of my favorites, but PU can make your palms all sweaty when you rest them on it.

I used a Min wax stain and polyurethane,  then wetsanded and buffed for a shine

[nubbinator]

I still don't care as much for PU for something you rest your palms on since it can make you sweat.  I've used PU (Arm-R-Seal), wax paste, Danish oil, and so on, and oils and waxes end up feeling the best.  A buffed oil and wax finish will give you a shine too if you want it, but PU is the easiest to maintain.

[Eziak]

I prefer an oil finish and or wax finish.  Arm-R-Seal is fantastic, one of my favorites, but PU can make your palms all sweaty when you rest them on it.

By an oil finish are you talking just straight boiled linseed oil, or an oil based varnish? I thought straight oil wouldn't be protective enough since the wrist rest would be getting pretty constant skin contact. Arm-r-seal is oil based, though.

[nubbinator]

Something like BLO, a true Danish oil, Ting oil, and so on.  If you key polymerize properly, it will be durable. 

Arm-r-Deal is wipe on PU.  I have it and use it, it's nice, but the PU finish can make you sweat.

[Eziak]

Something like BLO, a true Danish oil, Ting oil, and so on.  If you key polymerize properly, it will be durable. 

Arm-r-Deal is wipe on PU.  I have it and use it, it's nice, but the PU finish can make you sweat.

Okay, I've never really used just straight oil as a finish before. My desk that I made I have arm-r-seal on and it doesn't really make me sweat so I might stick with that. But do you have any durability issues with BLO or danish oil?

[nubbinator]

BLO polymerizes in the wood and will not be affected.  Danish oil, if with actual Tung oil not the garbage most sell, will polymerize and have a varnish that you can wear through, but the oil will not be affected..

[Eziak]

http://imgur.com/gallery/jI0nY/new

I just finished my project, I did end up using Arm-r-seal on it as I didn't feel that BLO or something like that would be protective enough, but we shall see. I think it turned out pretty well.

[tigersharkdude]

loving the two tone, did you use different woods, or did you mask the stripes on?

[Eziak]

loving the two tone, did you use different woods, or did you mask the stripes on?

The darker strips are walnut and the lighter strips are maple all glued together.