Mahogany Sweating Resin!

joliette

joliette

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I picked up some rough sawn planks - that look like very much like mahogany - from my local recyling yard. I left these in the sun whilst I was working on them, and noticed little bubbles of resin forming on the surface as the wood warmed up.

I was intending to make up some inch thick boards and finish these with Yacht Varnish for exterior use. Will this prevent the discharge of resin? Does the resin content make this wood more rot resistant?

It is straight grained wood, free from any shakes, so otherwise fit for purpose. I've never experienced this problem before so would appreciate some guidance. Thanks
 
Curious, a coat of shellac (knotting) will probably seal it in under the varnish but is it possible whatever it is sweating out is a contaminant it absorbed somewhere? Mahogany is not usually resinous is it.
How about an oiled finish to start with until it has settled.
 
It sounds like a plank of Keruing, its often used for lorry decking as it is as hard strong and durable, its only similarity to real mahogany is its similar colour, it contains a lot of resin, splinters from it always go septic.
 
joliette said:
Thank you. I've learnt something new today!
I'm going to go ahead and use it for my project - rather than pay for mahogany - as it was so cheap. I'll hope that some coats of epoxy and varnish will seal in the resin.
Click to expand...
What ais your project?

Will the additional cost of the coats of epoxy and varnish off set the difference in cost to mahogony?


Why are you using epoxy AND varnish ?

Why not stain and varnish?

Have you considered the UV degregation?
 
The wood has a good natural (mahogany) colour so there's no point in changing it with a stain. A base coat of a 2 coats epoxy followed by 4 full coats of yacht varnish (a quality one, with a high level of UV protection) seems to have a longer life than progressively building up thinned layers of varnish. I can build a good thick layer, with a deep gloss, more quickly.
 
It could well be mahogany.
American mahogany is the type we know and use, but African mahogany is more oily and contains pockets of resin that bleed.
Ok to use if you clean with solvent before finishing.
 
I agree - its Keruin. I bought some a few years ago because it looked like mahogany and was cheap but I had the same problem with resin bubbling through the surface. I used it for a garden seat and it has just stopped bubbling resin after about 6 years outdoors! Varnish, sealers paint etc just doesnt stop it bubbling resin so I would not use it until its stopped - could be a while so be patient.
 
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