Greetings All,
I'd like to revisit my oak question from last week. I'm finishing some 1/4
sawn red oak to be used as door/window casings, and have a specific look
that I'm shooting for. If you've ever seen any Amish oak furniture, you may
know what I want. Their finishing is very flat, smooth and has a satiny feel
to it. It was recommended to use Cyrstalac, which I have bought.
First, I used a single coat of Minwax Walnut stain which is close to the
shade I want. But after that dried, it appeared sort of blotchy. The kind
of blotchy if you ever stained soft pine (been there and done that) without
pretreating with a conditioner. I've never had that happen with oak, or
maybe I never noticed before. I have both Minwax sanding sealer and their
wood conditioner. What's the difference between the two? As far as I know,
the conditioner is for the previously mentioned pine to even out the
absorption. Not sure what the sanding sealer is for.... Second, when does
the Crystalac get applied? All I'm looking for is, after I stain to the
desired shade, a smooth surface where the grain doesn't feel bumpy to the
touch. In the meantime, I'll be in the basement experimenting... Thanks
Again, Mark
mark wrote:
> Greetings All,
> I'd like to revisit my oak question from last week. I'm finishing
> some 1/4 sawn red oak to be used as door/window casings, and have a
> specific look that I'm shooting for. If you've ever seen any Amish
> oak furniture, you may know what I want. Their finishing is very
> flat, smooth and has a satiny feel to it. It was recommended to
> use Cyrstalac, which I have bought. First, I used a single coat
> of Minwax Walnut stain which is close to the shade I want. But
> after that dried, it appeared sort of blotchy. The kind of blotchy
> if you ever stained soft pine (been there and done that) without
> pretreating with a conditioner. I've never had that happen with
> oak, or maybe I never noticed before. I have both Minwax sanding
> sealer and their wood conditioner. What's the difference between
> the two? As far as I know, the conditioner is for the previously
> mentioned pine to even out the absorption. Not sure what the
> sanding sealer is for.... Second, when does the Crystalac get
> applied?
> All I'm looking for is, after I stain to the desired
> shade, a smooth surface where the grain doesn't feel bumpy to the
> touch. In the meantime, I'll be in the basement experimenting...
> Thanks Again, Mark
Oak wasn't a good choice for the look want as the wood is very
"grainy". Much of the Amish things I have seen - tables at least -
has been cherry finished with tung oil.
If you want the oak grain filled you will either have to...
A. use paste wood grain filler (often mixed with stain) as a first
step. It may need to be applied more than once
- OR -
B. Apply *MANY* top coats (varnish/lacquer/shellac/whatever), wait
2-3 weeks or more until thoroughly dry, sand off enough of the finish
so that it is smooth (no grain "dents"), apply one or more final top
coats. Crystalac is a top coat material.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
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Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
Thanks Joe, I'm going out today and I've added it to my list.
"Chiefwoodworker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:c6646009-b1de-4e0d-8374-bd7b2850fa08@n58g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Mark,
>
> I'm not a finish expert. But if I recall correctly Jeff Jewitt deals
> with this specific issue in his book "Great Wood Finishes". You might
> wonder into a Barnes & Noble and check it out.
>
> Joe....
>
> On Mar 21, 9:48 pm, "mark" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Greetings All,
>> I'd like to revisit my oak question from last week. I'm finishing some
>> 1/4
>> sawn red oak to be used as door/window casings, and have a specific look
>> that I'm shooting for. If you've ever seen any Amish oak furniture, you
>> may
>> know what I want. Their finishing is very flat, smooth and has a satiny
>> feel
>> to it. It was recommended to use Cyrstalac, which I have bought.
>> First, I used a single coat of Minwax Walnut stain which is close to
>> the
>> shade I want. But after that dried, it appeared sort of blotchy. The
>> kind
>> of blotchy if you ever stained soft pine (been there and done that)
>> without
>> pretreating with a conditioner. I've never had that happen with oak, or
>> maybe I never noticed before. I have both Minwax sanding sealer and
>> their
>> wood conditioner. What's the difference between the two? As far as I
>> know,
>> the conditioner is for the previously mentioned pine to even out the
>> absorption. Not sure what the sanding sealer is for.... Second, when
>> does
>> the Crystalac get applied? All I'm looking for is, after I stain to the
>> desired shade, a smooth surface where the grain doesn't feel bumpy to the
>> touch. In the meantime, I'll be in the basement experimenting...
>> Thanks
>> Again, Mark
>
Mark,
I'm not a finish expert. But if I recall correctly Jeff Jewitt deals
with this specific issue in his book "Great Wood Finishes". You might
wonder into a Barnes & Noble and check it out.
Joe....
On Mar 21, 9:48 pm, "mark" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Greetings All,
> I'd like to revisit my oak question from last week. I'm finishing some 1/4
> sawn red oak to be used as door/window casings, and have a specific look
> that I'm shooting for. If you've ever seen any Amish oak furniture, you may
> know what I want. Their finishing is very flat, smooth and has a satiny feel
> to it. It was recommended to use Cyrstalac, which I have bought.
> First, I used a single coat of Minwax Walnut stain which is close to the
> shade I want. But after that dried, it appeared sort of blotchy. The kind
> of blotchy if you ever stained soft pine (been there and done that) without
> pretreating with a conditioner. I've never had that happen with oak, or
> maybe I never noticed before. I have both Minwax sanding sealer and their
> wood conditioner. What's the difference between the two? As far as I know,
> the conditioner is for the previously mentioned pine to even out the
> absorption. Not sure what the sanding sealer is for.... Second, when does
> the Crystalac get applied? All I'm looking for is, after I stain to the
> desired shade, a smooth surface where the grain doesn't feel bumpy to the
> touch. In the meantime, I'll be in the basement experimenting... Thanks
> Again, Mark