Q: What would you suggest to use in order to get the edge blackening effect you see on many pieces of furniture? A: That’s called shading, and it is done in two different ways; with glazing and with toning. Glaze is a specialized thickened stain designed to go in between coats of finish rather than [...]
Q: You brought a Canterbury color stain to a class you taught at Port Townsend. I have been looking for that color and can’t find it. A: I suspect that is because you remembered the wrong name. There may well be a Canterbury stain, since companies use all sorts of nonsensical names for stains, but [...]
Q: The Country Club wants a bench for the golf course, so I suggested ipe. They want an oil finish like a varnish, but I just found out you can’t use that on Ipe. A: There is no reason you can’t use an exterior oil varnish on ipe, though to be honest, many people prefer [...]
Q: I installed and sanded a new white oak floor. Do I need a basecoat of either sealer or something else under urethane? A: While there are some professional floor finishes that require a specific sealer, the majority of them are one part finishes, and do not need any sealer. Those that do will say [...]
Q: How long does waterbased polyurethane stay wet on a floor, so that I don’t have the risk of ridges forming? A: It depends on the temperature and humidity, but even under the best of circumstances, waterbased finish sets up very fast. That means you must work quickly to avoid ridges, and do not go [...]
Q: We applied waterbased Varathane to unfinished oak doors and base boards. They were stored in our garage for two weeks. This last weekend we installed the baseboards but had to remove them because the varnish odor was making us sick. What can we do about the varnish odor? A: I must admit that this [...]
Q: What is best type of finish to use for outdoor seating made of tigerwood? A: Any exterior finish should work just fine. For seating, I lean toward either spar urethane or spar varnish.
Q: I have wood paneling in my shower stalls that need re-doing. I have already sanded and wiped the walls. What would be the best sealer to use? A: Best? The best would be a moisture cured urethane, but it is not easy to come by. Offhand, I know of only one company in Brooklyn, NY currently [...]
Q: I decided I applied three coats of Danish oil. It doesn’t make a sheen or gloss. Is this the way it is supposed to be? A: Yes. Danish oil is actually a very thin, wipe on varnish. It is designed to be absorbed by the wood and to case harden within, thus adding protection from stains, [...]
Q: I am under the impression that Watco will dry harder than Minwax wipe on poly. Is this true? A: Minwax and Watco are both brand names. To compare, you must talk about the specific products involved, and both make many products. For instance, both make wipe on polyurethane finishes, and both are called Wipe [...]
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