finishing a treadle machine
 

Last year I bought a treadle sewing machine and my hubby took it all apart and sanded down the exterior and they he got very sick and today he is not strong enough to do anything and I am wondering what kind of finish should I put on it. I thought polyurethaine spray so it will get down in all the very ornate pieces of wood. I know I can do it but what are your suggestions.

My husband redid my old machine I've had for 50 years BRUSHED with polyurethane, several coats.

My DH finished my treadle cabinet with just Tung Oil, and it came out beautiful! It's no chemicals like poly, and makes the wood just glow!! I like it a lot! Easy to apply with a brush or a wad of cheese cloth or a sponge. Super Easy!!

This would be the way I would do it It would look more original

I like using shellac. It's not super durable like polyurethane or an oil-based varnish, but I find it easy to work with and "refresh" spots if needed. I like to thin it out a bit with denatured alcohol and wipe it on with lint-free cotton rags. It dries quickly and after many thin coats "melt" together, it is a pretty finish.

Ditto. According to Glenn, it's also authentic to the time period of these old girls. It reallly gives a "deep" finished look...and it's easy to work with.

I used shellac on my straight leg treadle cabinet, and I was surprised how shiny it was! My experience with shellac previous to that had been with a couple of mission oak library tables my mother refinished. She "rubbed" the final coat with paste wax on some extra fine steel wool and then buffed it--those tables have a beautiful satin sheen and are as smooth as anything I've felt.

Dianna, Please use shellac it is food safe when cured and easy to work. You can rag it on or brush. PM me if you need instructions Skip

I agree with the no poly chemical thing. Just the shellac.

Thanks everyone for the choices I think I will go with shellac