Results are in. Six different finishes were applied to that chunk of Olive Ash. Each was applied thinly with a rag and denibbled between each coat with a worn bit of 600g Abranet.
1.
![IMG_2672.jpg](./download/file.php?id=2883&sid=1a97aa7faf60f23d920db91c41082ed1)
- (150.53 KiB)
Three coats of Osmo Raw
2.
![IMG_2673.jpg](./download/file.php?id=2884&sid=1a97aa7faf60f23d920db91c41082ed1)
- (184.12 KiB)
Two coats of Osmo Raw followed by one coat of Osmo Hardwax Matt
3.
![IMG_2674.jpg](./download/file.php?id=2885&sid=1a97aa7faf60f23d920db91c41082ed1)
- (193.18 KiB)
Three coats of Osmo Hardwax Satin
4.
![IMG_2675.jpg](./download/file.php?id=2886&sid=1a97aa7faf60f23d920db91c41082ed1)
- (173.52 KiB)
Three coats of Osmo Hardwax Matt
5.
![IMG_2676.jpg](./download/file.php?id=2887&sid=1a97aa7faf60f23d920db91c41082ed1)
- (189.08 KiB)
Four coats of Polyvine Acrylic Matt
6.
![IMG_2677.jpg](./download/file.php?id=2888&sid=1a97aa7faf60f23d920db91c41082ed1)
- (222.68 KiB)
Polyvine Acrylic Wax; two coats of Satin followed by two coats of Matt
Pics 1 & 2 show the effect of Osmo Raw on this timber and whichever way you slices it, it's bloody horrible.
Pics 3 & 4 show Osmo Hardwax Satin and Matt.
Pice 5 & 6 are the most interesting as they indicate that this Polyvine Acrylic stuff is pretty good. There's hardly any difference between Matt Polyvine (5) and Osmo HW Matt (4) with maybe perhaps No.4 being just a shade less matt than No.5.
The great advantage of the acrylic stuff is that you can get four coats on (with denibblizing between each coat) inside an hour (assuming a warmish 'shop). I usually put a decent quality beeswax over the top of my finish just to enhance it slightly but I haven't done so on these test pieces.
With the acrylic finishes, there was also no need to raise the grain prior to application and neither did the grain rise after it was applied. It's also as smooth as a baby's bum once it's dry.
What say ye? - Rob
I no longer work for Axminster Tools & Machinery.