I just made a picture frame out of good clear pine. After sanding and putting the final touches on it, I asked my wife what kind of finish she'd like to have on the unfinished Pine. She said "clear, very clear, I want it to stay the exact color it is now"  Add clear finish to any wood and it will darken.  I spit on my finger and rubbed it on the frame. "This is what it will look like"  She wasn't happy with it, but accepted me at my word. Was I correct or is there some trick or finish I don't know about that will not darked the wood when applied?

You are correct and it will yellow some, more with age.  Fine if you like that, not so good if you want the whiter look.  

Water based poly doesn’t yellow as much as oil based. What about shellac?

Yes the eternal question . I have looked at many and the water base may be the closest but all will cause some change if for no other reason than the refraction of light by the finish itself. I love shellac but it does darken wood.

Your approach wetting the wood is the correct one. Like they said above, the waterborne finishes may be your best bet, though be sure to check the label. Some of them are tinted to mimic an oil based finish and you won't want that. The other thing is they will raise the grain. Not a problem, after the first coat, smooth the wood and then your done with it. But a big warning about what was mentioned above, the wood itself will change over time....there's actually nothing you can do that will keep it as it is now.One otehr thign, there is a shellac called "platinum blonde" that is very close to being clear...and shellac is light-fast (doesn't change over time). Here's a pic of some I put on a hard maple test piece. The right side has the shellac on it.

8 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Here's a pic of some I put on a hard maple test piece. The right side has the shellac on it.

 

How long ago was the test piece done, Fred?

It's a guess, but I'm thinking I did that 6-7 years ago when someone else asked the same question (clear finish). I can't find the date on the file, it's a little harder to do with a Mac. I'm also sure I still have that piece, but I can't find it at the moment. I keep looking later today and see if I can give you an updated pic.

Also, what about lacquer?

This is lacquer over white pine or spruce and the other two are Baltic Birch which is whiter than most woods..

I also think this is actually the color of these two woods right when a person cuts a tree down...And the sanded versions are not the actual colors.

 I have used lacquer all my adult life and every thing in the house is under lacquer and can't see any yellowing using any other varieties of wood.

 These were sprayed this morning.. and this back scratcher was sprayed a month or so ago using lacquer.. I think if someone wants a very light color after lacquer goes is to use the lightest colored maple they can find to start with..

Or they can go to the trouble of getting the commercial wood bleach. And right after a person uses that and its not white enough get a bottle of your wifes clothes bleach and keep applying it . This is what I use to do when bleaching mahogany.  I will say using house hold bleach only it will turn the wood a yellow color and still be too dark....

You can simulate the color that blonde shellac will give you by rubbing some denatured alcohol on it. It is probably the clearest finish available with lacquer a close second.

Paul

Someone has come out with a newer finish that is supposed to look like unfinished wood.   I've not tried it and the name escapes me at the moment, but I'll keep an eye out.

 

Lacquers without color are usually labeled "water white."

Edited December 6, 20205 yr by kmealy

I had the same problem. Working with Staghorn wood. Everything I put on it for a finish would turn the orange wood brown. 

28 minutes ago, Kevin Beitz said:

Working with Staghorn wood.

 

What is Staghorn wood Kevin?

You might know it as a burn bush...

Nope, not even by that name

Opps... I  was wrong. I meant to say smoke tree...

 

https://www.thespruce.com/growing-a-purple-smoke-bush-3269235

Edited December 23, 20205 yr by Kevin Beitz

12 minutes ago, Kevin Beitz said:

You might know it as a burn bush...

 

I know that one, illegal in WI, but that doesn't stop people from having them.

https://www.thespruce.com/burning-bush-shrubs-invasive-plants-2132438

Now I got it.  Thanks.

Larry, it is two different shrubs going by the latin names.  I have seen the smoke tree listed in the garden catalogs.

Lacquer or water based polyurethane are the least color changing in experience.   

Ever work with"Hedge"? It's French name is Bois d' arc. Back in IL, it was pronounced "BODARK". I has the most beautiful yellow wood....until it sets for a while in the sun. Then it turns a fairly dark brown. Similar to Kevin's displayed piece.  

The French called it bois d' arc because the native Americans used it for their bows.

Edited January 22, 20215 yr by Gene Howe