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Great job Larry, go for it!

I used the zpoxy on a WRC top and could not seem to get away fromthe blotchy look. Your color looks even and good - I would just keep it the way it is. Just be very careful not to sand through any where!

Here's a quick note that may help someone in the future. If you notice there is a small dark area just below the rosette to the left. This is where I scraped through the rosette, but NEVER finish sanded because I had already gone through the rosette.

The rest was taken down to 400 grit just because I love the feel of super smooth wood and it seems to really bring out the silking.

Now that I feel the top I can feel that it is rougher in that dark spot leading me to believe the color there is a function of how smooth that area is/is not.

Could sanding the softer wood tops to a VERY fine grit help avoid the blotchiness some have experienced?

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Thank You and Best To All

I haven't read any of the comments here yet- my immediate reaction was "WOW, what a beauty!! Why on EARTH does he want to scrape it all off again?!"

I am delighted to read that everyone else's reaction was the same.

It actually looks somewhat like the Fine Arts (FA) tops I have sold from the Craig & Alicia Carter stash I have. They are a much darker redwood and give the appearance of being "wine vat cured".
I think the color gives character to tops and some of my most interesting redwood tops had "character".

However, there is one lesson to be learned here and passed on to all builders...when you use a new type of wood for the first time and/or you change you finishing process, do test out some cut-off scraps first just to see what sort of results/reactions you are going to get. And, yes, I learned the hard way back in my early days.

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Hank Mauel

[QUOTE=Hank Mauel] However, there is one lesson to be learned here and passed on to all builders...when you use a new type of wood for the first time and/or you change you finishing process, do test out some cut-off scraps first just to see what sort of results/reactions you are going to get. And, yes, I learned the hard way back in my early days. [/QUOTE]

I'll take that to heart.

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Thank You and Best To All

Larry - chiming in late here -- add me to the column that likes it with a darkened top.

It's gonna be gorgeous under finish!