Bloodwood Frustration?

[boxmaker]

I recently made a trinket box for my niece out of Blood Wood. I had a small piece that I have had for awhile, and thought it would be perfect for this little box. Well I finish sanded it with 220 grit, and applied a wipe on poly, it has been two days and it is still tacky. The thing is, at the same time I applied the poly to this little box, I also applied the same finish to a red oak box, a Mahogany box, a Zebra wood box, and a Brazilian cherry box, and they are all dry and I have applied a second coat and the second coat is dry. The Blood wood is better, but still a little tacky. The Blood Wood looks very dense, but I have never used it before. Any Ideas. I am getting ready to strip the poly off and spray it with lacquer. Any Suggestions.

                                                          Mark

[dgman]

Hey Mark, Sounds like the bloodwood is a bit oily. I have used bloodwood before but do not recall it being oily. after you strip off the poly, wipe it down with some lacquer thinner before you reapply your top coat. You may want to apply some shellac to seal the wood before you apply your top coat.
Good luck!

[boxmaker]

Thanks for the input dgman, I do not have any shellac. I stripped off the poly, I will have to buy some shellac, I think they sell it premixed, so I do not have to buy the flakes and mix with alcohol. Thanks again.

[BilltheDiver]

boxmaker, you are right.  You can buy it premixed in either amber or clear.  You can also thin it with denatured alcohol and turn it in to a wipe on finish if you like.  I thin it and spray it on then, after a few coats, rub it down with 0000 steel wool dipped in paste wax.  Makes a fine finish that is smooth to the touch with an even luster.

[Russ C]

Spray Lacquer will also work to seal and finish the wood very nice since you already have it. I use it all the time on oily type woods like Blood Wood. 

[boxmaker]

Sprayed with lacquer this morning, already dry. Thanks everyone, this project is now on the finished list... Well, I still have to put the flock inside and the hinge, but the worst is over for me.