Curly maple finish came out perfect, but the grain is acting strange

I just finished a small table from curly maple, and for the first time, I got a glass-smooth top coat. It took three thin coats of wipe-on poly, sanding lightly between each. I was so pleased with how it came out, no bubbles or dust nibs. But here's the thing, the grain pattern seemed to shift after the final coat. It looks different under light now, almost like it's moving. I'm not sure if that's normal for curly maple or if I messed up. I thought I knew how finishes work with wood, but this has me puzzled. Maybe it's just the way the light hits the finished surface.

3 comments

3 Comments

tyler_smith1mo ago

Know exactly what you mean! Curly maple does weird stuff with light, it's not you. I built a guitar with a curly maple top last year, and the finish made the stripes look like they were swimming depending on the room light. It freaked me out too at first, but that's just how that wild grain interacts with a smooth, clear coat. You got the perfect finish, now you get the light show that comes with it.

victor_stone1mo ago

Actually, the swimming stripes come more from the wood's natural waves than the finish alone. I've seen bare curly maple do the same thing under bright lights. A clear coat just boosts the effect, lol.

henryreed27d ago

Yeah, that light show freaked me out too until I just got used to it.