How to finish Specrite Merbau panels?

amity23

Hi there, we are planning on using the Merbau Specrite panels (cut in half length ways) as shelving for the bookshelves in my office. We have heard that the colour from tannins can seem out if not sealed. As I have a vast book collection and don't want to have them being tinted brown or sticking to the wood. We are just hoping for some advise on how we would (if at all) need to seal/finish these to make them suitable as bookshelves, as well as a possible table top for a computer desk.

Thanks in advance!

JacobZ

Hi @amity23,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

In applications where moisture is present, such as bathrooms or kitchen counters, they are much more prone to issues with tannin leeching, but it is still going to be worth sealing them to protect your books.

They can be sealed with a wax, oil or varnish, depending on what finish you would like.

Wax gives the lightest, most natural finish, which, being a bookcase that is unlikely to have moisture on it, would be my choice. You could use this Feast Watson Soft Wax, which should be applied as a light coat with a soft cloth, allowed to sit for 5-10 minutes, then buffed to remove excess and produce a nice sheen.

You could also use a clear oil or varnish, which are slightly more robust coatings, but they take away a bit of the natural feel of the timber.

Whatever sealer you choose to use, I'd suggest giving the panels a light sand with some fine-grit sandpaper such as this 240 Grit Sandpaper to ensure the surface is clean and perfectly smooth. It is also worth rounding the cut edges slightly as they will be relatively sharp.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob