i just finished constructing a relatively simple (but nice) bookcase as
a gift for a relative. nothing fancy, but birch ply with a solid,
figured maple edge banding. anyway, i want to stain the whole unit
somewhat dark, as he likes dark woods - i tried applying minwax "special
walnut" stain to a test piece, and honestly it looks like crap. the ply
and the edging take the stain very differently, and i don't like either
of them.
what i am looking for is a relatively easy solution to apply a nice,
easy-to-apply dark stain to this unit. it doesn't have to look perfect
as this isn't an heirloom piece. i'm looking for a reasonable, but
generally nice finish/process. i've considered:
* going for the stain and hoping that my thinned, wiped-on oil poly
evens it out
* skipping the stain and going with colored seal-a-cell wipe-on, then
buffed and waxed
* going with a colored oil, then waxing the whole unit
suggestions appreciated. the birch ply i picked up is from lowes, and
it's crap, but i needed it on sunday. the maple banding is spectacular,
highly figured - so they balance each other out.
thanks for any suggestions!
---- dz
reply to dave at zaret dot com
i sanded to 180. up to 150 by machine, then 180 by hand. it's well
sanded, but not given a sheen.
i did more experimenting, and i ended up using a tinted danish oil, with
a top coat of wiped-on, thinned poly. then steel wool, and wax. they
look absolutely incredible, and the maple really pops.
i've never worked with shellac, but i think i'll try it for the baby
changing table coming up next.
--- dz
Bay Area Dave wrote:
> poly isn't going to even anything out, David.
>
> what EXACTLY do you mean by "looks like crap"? what grit was your final
> sanding? you might consider a seal coat to help even things out BEFORE
> staining, so that the different woods don't come out so different. maybe
> the birch ply is beyond redemption? provide a little more descriptive
> info for the Wreckers to help you better.
>
> dave
>
> David Zaret wrote:
>
>> i just finished constructing a relatively simple (but nice) bookcase
>> as a gift for a relative. nothing fancy, but birch ply with a solid,
>> figured maple edge banding. anyway, i want to stain the whole unit
>> somewhat dark, as he likes dark woods - i tried applying minwax
>> "special walnut" stain to a test piece, and honestly it looks like
>> crap. the ply and the edging take the stain very differently, and i
>> don't like either of them.
>>
>> what i am looking for is a relatively easy solution to apply a nice,
>> easy-to-apply dark stain to this unit. it doesn't have to look
>> perfect as this isn't an heirloom piece. i'm looking for a
>> reasonable, but generally nice finish/process. i've considered:
>>
>> * going for the stain and hoping that my thinned, wiped-on oil poly
>> evens it out
>> * skipping the stain and going with colored seal-a-cell wipe-on, then
>> buffed and waxed
>> * going with a colored oil, then waxing the whole unit
>>
>> suggestions appreciated. the birch ply i picked up is from lowes, and
>> it's crap, but i needed it on sunday. the maple banding is
>> spectacular, highly figured - so they balance each other out.
>>
>> thanks for any suggestions!
>>
>> ---- dz
>>
>>
>> reply to dave at zaret dot com
>>
>
poly isn't going to even anything out, David.
what EXACTLY do you mean by "looks like crap"? what grit was your final
sanding? you might consider a seal coat to help even things out BEFORE
staining, so that the different woods don't come out so different.
maybe the birch ply is beyond redemption? provide a little more
descriptive info for the Wreckers to help you better.
dave
David Zaret wrote:
> i just finished constructing a relatively simple (but nice) bookcase as
> a gift for a relative. nothing fancy, but birch ply with a solid,
> figured maple edge banding. anyway, i want to stain the whole unit
> somewhat dark, as he likes dark woods - i tried applying minwax "special
> walnut" stain to a test piece, and honestly it looks like crap. the ply
> and the edging take the stain very differently, and i don't like either
> of them.
>
> what i am looking for is a relatively easy solution to apply a nice,
> easy-to-apply dark stain to this unit. it doesn't have to look perfect
> as this isn't an heirloom piece. i'm looking for a reasonable, but
> generally nice finish/process. i've considered:
>
> * going for the stain and hoping that my thinned, wiped-on oil poly
> evens it out
> * skipping the stain and going with colored seal-a-cell wipe-on, then
> buffed and waxed
> * going with a colored oil, then waxing the whole unit
>
> suggestions appreciated. the birch ply i picked up is from lowes, and
> it's crap, but i needed it on sunday. the maple banding is spectacular,
> highly figured - so they balance each other out.
>
> thanks for any suggestions!
>
> ---- dz
>
>
> reply to dave at zaret dot com
>