To achieve a smooth and glossy finish on wood, apply multiple thin coats of clear finish, sanding between coats to remove imperfections. Finish with a fine-grit sandpaper and polish for added shine.
Wood dyes, such as TransTint or Transfast, are more likely to be successful on the tight grain of difficult woods. Aniline wood dyes, which are fine powder dyes that can be mixed with water, alcohol, or petroleum solvents, show off the grain of the wood and let your beautiful maple shine.
Due to the dense grain of maple, linseed oil doesn't penetrate well and can result in a blotchy appearance. Tung oil has no issues penetrating the dense maple grain, and because it dries clear, it's a great finish for lighter colored woods.
To make wood look glossy, you can apply a clear, high-gloss finish such as polyurethane, lacquer, or varnish. Start by sanding the wood surface to a smooth finish, then apply multiple coats of the chosen finish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before lightly sanding and applying the next.
It would be better to finish with a cab acrylic lacquer or a water based polyurethane to keep the finish clear. Without a stain a water based polyurethane usually has a really bland look on maple. You can counter this by wiping the wood down with boiled linseed oil.
Tung Oil Varnish blend is what I used in this tutorial. While oil finishes do a wonderful job at highlighting the figure in curly maple, they also add a gentle amber color. An oil such as tung oil or boiled linseed oil will also reveal and add punch to figure that may have been difficult to see in the raw board.
MAPLE WOOD: NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL
Use a lightly damp cloth to gently clean the surface of any fingerprints and marks. Using a dirt-free cloth perhaps even an old white tee shirt apply your furniture polish to the fabric and then clean the wood evenly in the direction of the grain.
There are couple of ways to do that. First is wood polish which will give a nice shiny surface but will be a very thin layer. If it's a good wood and you just want to give it a shine a polish is the best option. Second is giving it a varnish, which will protect your wood and also give a thicker coating on it.
Oil and lemon juice.
In a spray bottle, mix two tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, and two cups of warm water. Shake well and dampen the mop to begin shining the hardwood.
Whilst there are many 'old school' wood oils, the most commonly used are without a doubt Danish oil, Teak oil, Tung oil and to a lesser degree Linseed oil. There is no set formula for Teak or Danish oil meaning that they can vary from brand to brand.
In most cases, you don't need to use a wood conditioner on a hardwood. However, some hardwoods-such as maple and birch-are more porous, so they can also benefit from the use of wood conditioners.
Maple wood is commonly used in high-end furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and kitchen accessories. Because of its durability and strength, maple can be found used as flooring in bowling alleys and for bowling pins.
Traditional wood oils such as tung oil or linseed oil can be used to finish maple and to bring out the curly, or tiger grain of the wood.
Polyurethane Wood Finish
Water-based polyurethane dries quickly and can be used on bare, stained or painted wood. It provides a clear, natural sheen that does not yellow with age.
Varnish is translucent, which allows the natural characteristics of a piece of wood shine. Varnish also adds a barrier that protects the wood against damage, including scratches and dents. Apply varnish with a new, natural-bristle brush.
The best option is to use a varnish or lacquer to give the wood a high gloss finish. While varnish can be sprayed or brushed on, lacquer is best applied by simple spraying. Spraying makes the surface seem finer than painting as it doesn't leave any strokes behind.
The oil in WD-40 helps condition the wood, enhancing its natural shine and color. It's important to use a moderate amount and avoid oversaturating the wood. This technique can revitalize old wooden chairs, tables, picture frames, or any wooden object that needs a pick-me-up.
Different oils have different properties and are suitable for specific types of wood. Here are some good combinations: Teak oil works well for bamboo, linseed oil for cedar wood, and these two oils (teak and linseed) can also be used for mahogany wood.
One of the most popular ways to make fresh homemade polish is by combining equal parts white vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle. Vinegar removes greasy finger prints and grime from wood while lemon juice works as a disinfectant and imparts an appealing fragrance to the wood polish.
Murphy® Original oil soap is the one Mom and Grandma used to clean wood to a natural shine. Pull out the bucket and get nostalgic while cleaning wooden floors and furniture, cabinets, tile and linoleum.
Purchase oil soap wood cleaner
It's stronger than vinegar or a simple dish soap solution, so it's a good product to have on hand when you want to give your cabinets a deep cleaning. Use a soft cloth to rub the oil soap on your cabinets using a circular motion, but not too much pressure.