Finishing Paulownia Wood Pen Case -- Oil Or Stain?

March 30, 2017

I bought a beautiful Wancher paulownia wood pen case on ebay recently.

The wood is beautiful, but it is unfinished, so I worry about it getting stained. Does anyone have experience in finishing a case like this? Or should I just leave it as is?

(I did search both Google and FPN and found nothing applicable.)

Thank you!

Case:

Close up of wood grain:

March 31, 2017

I play go.Paulownia wood has been the traditional casing for go kisu (bowls for holding the playing stones) and to cover fine playing boards. It is never stained or oiled. Never. It is assumed it will pick up everything that touches the wood. Everything. I had a p-wood case for my bowls that I owned for many years before selling it to a happy go player. He loved the patina and weird stains it had acquired. Western tastes, of course, are different.But the stuff is like balsa so you can research that, too, for suggestions form other woodworkers.

See the wares of this traditional go equipment maker in Japan.

http://shop.kurokigoishi.co.jp/en/category/0906

http://shop.kurokigoishi.co.jp/en/item/173

March 31, 2017

Personally, I am not a fan of stains. I prefer wood to show its natural colours. That said, there is a huge varity of things you could put on as a protective coat. A lot of your choice is going to be based on where you live, and your skill level.

For a simple finish, I would look to a wipe on shellac, 2-3 coats, followed by a few coats of a rubbed in wax polish.

I like this combination, because it leaves the look and feel of the wood fairly well intact. It is not a hard coat, so its not protected from hard scratches and dents. Shellac is also alcohol based, so setting a wet drink glass on it is very bad. On the bright side, this finish is one of the easiest to repair.

You might also want to check if you have a local wood hobby club. Usually lots of friendly and experienced people willing to give guidance and assistance.

There really is nothing like a smooth silky finsh that you have rubbed in yourself.

March 31, 2017

check out the "Lumberjocks' forum. It is to the hobby wood working community what FPN is to us. You will find a wood finishing forum, ask the question thee and you and you will get a whole lot more answers than here. Folk there are every bit as civil as here.

If you need more help with this project PM me and we can talk.

March 31, 2017

Thank you so much for your helpful replies (and thanks to Dr. Codfish's offer of help!). The go equipment is beautiful.

I think I will not treat it and just let it wood be as bogiesan and darrin1200 recommend. Since the pen-case's ebay seller (engeika) had a long description of the wood, emphasizing its use in Japan, I would prefer to respect the craft and design and keep it untreated.

Many of the google links I saw were to guitar and surfboard building forums: those builders are finishing their paulownia wood for obvious reasons. So I wasn't sure about the customary treatment and assumed that FPN would have an answer!