oil or tinted varnish for decks
 

I have read many threads about tung oil, danish oil and varnish finishes. None appear to discuss the appearance on different species of woods. Am I correct in understanding that an oil mostly highlights the grain providing a rich finish in the wood? In my Artesania Latina San Francisco kit they provide only basswood with no grain for deck planking. Is it still appropriate to use oil or should I be using a tinted varnish to get a better (richer) appearance?
Alan

Re: oil vs varnish for decks
 

Alan,I would suggest trying an oil based stain of your choice.The only problem with this approach is that staining the deck that is already installed could pose a problem with the stain being uneven because of excess glue stains.If you have not installed the decking planks,you can pre stain them!!The other rought that you could go is to plank the basswood with a thin vener of the wooden planks of your choice!Either walnut or beechwood would look very nice.Cheers Walter

Re: oil vs varnish for decks
 

Hi Alan, I've found that no matter what you use as a finish, if the wood doesn't have that desirable grain quality that you're looking for no amount of stain or varnish will bring it out.
What you could do, if it's not already too late, is to replace the planks with a different type of wood. There's nothing that says you have to use the kits contents.
I used a wood called "Tanganyka" for the decks of my first 2 Art Lat kits. I've substituted Walnut, Pear and Mahogany for basswood. There are a few sites that sell pre-cut planks and if you have a fairly decent band saw you can buy boards and cut the yourself. I've cut planks as small as 1/32" x 1/16" x 20"
If you want to try a varnish that's really easy to use and brings out the grain of the wood:
Mix 2 or 3 parts spar varnish or poly-urethane (whichever you prefer)
1 part mineral spirits
1 part boiled linseed oil.
Pete

Re: oil or tinted varnish for decks
 

Alan
Surely at the scale you're using a wood with minimal grain is correct, I would have thought that basswood would be perfect. Also, as for color, most decks are pretty bleached with no color showing, so again, I would have thought basswood with a matt sealer would be perfect. After the sealer is applied, such as Danish oil, I would rub the surface with 0000 grade steel wool to give a truely dull finnish
Roger

Re: oil vs varnish for decks
 

It's a matter of preference whether you want the grain to be prominent or subdued. I like the richness that grain gives to wood and the reason I avoid painting over hulls and decks etc. I'd rather use a harder, more colorful wood like Pear on decks and a deeper color like walnut for hulls. If the hull is going to be painted or doubled then basswood is more pliable and easier to twist and bend.
But that's only my opinion when it comes to your model it's whatever floats your boat that counts.
Pete