"Black Finish" question results

I posted to abpw some pics (poor ones at that) of the result of my question some time ago about putting a deep, dark, wet black finish on a woodturning I was working on.

I took several of the suggestions from this forum and did test pieces on just flat pieces of leftover basswood. I still haven't taken pictures of those results yet. I won't until I can get better pictures than those posted of the finished items. You couldn't tell the differences unless I wait to figure out how to get better pictures. I'm really disgusted with the pictures. The finish (not necessarily the woodturning! ) looks lots better than those pictures show.

I finished 2 of 4 of the pieces today and those are the results. I need to deliver 1 of them tomorrow to a gallery for it's fundraiser. They're

*supposed* to look like drops of oil falling into a puddle of oil making waves (for the one I'm sending to the gallery) and the other one is more of a splash into a puddle of oil. I KNOW I've seen this kind of idea before but I don't remember where or by whom it was done. Anybody know who did this? I'd love to give credit to the idea but I've looked all over and can't find it. Probably a magazine but maybe a website.

They're both about 5" x 5" x 5" and made from Basswood.

Here's how I applied the finish...

1. Sand on the lathe up to 600 dry grit.
2. Applied Lacquer sanding sealer. Let sit until dry
3. Sanded 400 to 600 dry grit
4. Took off the lathe
5. Applied Dupli-Color Auto Primer
6. Sanded 600 dry grit
7. Applied 5 coats of Dupli-Color Gloss Black Lacquer
8. Sanded 600 dry grit
9. Applied 5 coats of Dupli-Color Gloss Black Lacquer
10. Sanded 600 dry grit
11. Applied 2 coats of Dupli-Color Gloss Black Lacquer
12. Sanded 800, 1000, 1500 WET (water and a little dishwashing detergent) grit
13. Washed and dried off detergent residue
14. Applied 3M Automotive Rubbing Compound
15. Applied 3M Automotive Finish Restorer

I tried buffing with my normal Beall-type (a homemade system) system that I use on many woodturnings to give it that "To-Sell Gloss" on the test pieces but it actually brought the shine down. So, I just stopped at #15. It's quite a nice shine just like that!

So that's where it stands. Thanks for the help everybody. I think the finish turned out great. I had hoped that the actual woodturning would have turned out better though. The proportions just aren't right yet. I'm going to keep playing with it a little and see if I can do better. Unfortunately, the gallery will just have to settle on this one.

- Andrew