Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - finishing old woodwork

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edtree
07-27-02, 03:20 AM
I've spent weeks stripping multiple layers of paint off my 100 year old woodwork and several doors and am now down to the bare wood. After all that work, I'm now to the point where I need to put a new finish on and am having a lot of anxiety (thinking I'll ruin them)

I'm having my stain color matched at a paint store and will pick it up today. What else do I need to do to the wood before applying the stain? What kind of final finish would work best for woodwork? Poly or varnish?

The wood is yellow pine.

Thanks in advance.

Elizabeth

fewalt
07-27-02, 08:43 AM
Elizabeth,

When you get your stain, test it first! But before that, since you have pine, you should use a pre-stain conditioner. Pine tends to stain blotchy and the pre-stain will help the absorption variances.

Poly or varnish? - Polyurethane is an enhanced varnish with harder resins. Slightly thinned (mineral spirits) oil-base poly will have a smoother finish than water base poly. You also have to decide between gloss, semi-gloss, and satin. Again, do more testing.

Good luck,
fred
edtree
07-30-02, 02:46 PM
The paint store did not have my stain ready so it will be yet one more week before I can put some color on my wood. I will take both your suggestions seriously and pick up some wood conditioner and some oil-based poly.

Again, thank you. It's great to know there is help available when one needs it.

Elizabeth:)