Staining Birch Veneer Plywood - ATM Project - Help!

John Steinberg wrote:
I'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideally, it will be stained with a
water-based but water-resistant clear stain that lets the beauty of the
wood show through with zero or minimal color/tint added.

I'm off to Lowes and/or Home Depot later today and soliciting brand
names and/or the type of product most suitable for this type of job.

The shop in question is poorly ventilated so if there's something on
the market that does the above without noxious fumes, still better.

If nothing available meets the listed criteria, what would be the best
product to achieve a durable, clear finish on the rocker box?

Thanks for any authoritative replies.

I'm no authority, but I have had good results with Varathane. I use the
clear satin finish. It is not completely clear, but still very good. I
have used it on oak, pine, birch. Oak really shows quite a bit of
colour, pine shows some, but it is the regular pine colour, and birch
stays very white.

Eric.

Get the regular stain of the color that you like and have fun. Don't get
the gel stains as these often end up splotchy and don't have as much stain
in the container as regular stain.
I haven't tried any of the stranger water based stains so I can't comment on
them but I find the regular stain to be fairly odor free after a few
moments.

--
Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?

John Steinberg wrote:

I'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideally, it will be stained with a
water-based but water-resistant clear stain that lets the beauty of the
wood show through with zero or minimal color/tint added.

I'm off to Lowes and/or Home Depot later today and soliciting brand
names and/or the type of product most suitable for this type of job.

The shop in question is poorly ventilated so if there's something on
the market that does the above without noxious fumes, still better.

If nothing available meets the listed criteria, what would be the best
product to achieve a durable, clear finish on the rocker box?

Thanks for any authoritative replies.

The king of finishes is still boiled linseed oil with no sealer so that
it soaks in. It takes a long time, but it's a "work for ten minutes,
wait several days" project. Fumes are minimal.

Guy Macon wrote:

The king of finishes is still boiled linseed oil with no sealer so that
it soaks in. It takes a long time, but it's a "work for ten minutes,
wait several days" project. Fumes are minimal.

Here is a howto:

http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp...ecommendations

'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideall

Mini-Wax is a good stain and comes in various contrast/colors. Verathane is an
exxcellent finish, either satin or gloss.

Eric wrote in message news:oKSed.51569$_u6.27022@edtnps89...
John Steinberg wrote:
I'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideally, it will be stained with a
water-based but water-resistant clear stain that lets the beauty of the
wood show through with zero or minimal color/tint added.


Oil based Urethane will leave a yellow tint to the wood. Water base
will be practially clear. For exterior durability use a Spar type
Urethane. To keep color stain from blotching, use Minwax Wood
Conditioner before staining.
DL Smallen

"John Steinberg" wrote:
I'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideally, it will be stained with a
water-based but water-resistant clear stain that lets the beauty of the
wood show through with zero or minimal color/tint added.

I'm off to Lowes and/or Home Depot later today and soliciting brand
names and/or the type of product most suitable for this type of job.
snip


I can't recommend the best finish for your application, but Dave Kriege
(Obsession Telescopes) suggests applying a coat of Johnson Paste Wax as per
the manufacturer's recommendation to the wood sections of his scopes. I do
this every year for my Obsession scopes and it seems to provide an excellent
additional layer of protection against dew.

John Steinberg wrote:
I'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideally, it will be stained with a
water-based but water-resistant clear stain that lets the beauty of the
wood show through with zero or minimal color/tint added.

I'm off to Lowes and/or Home Depot later today and soliciting brand
names and/or the type of product most suitable for this type of job.

The shop in question is poorly ventilated so if there's something on
the market that does the above without noxious fumes, still better.

If nothing available meets the listed criteria, what would be the best
product to achieve a durable, clear finish on the rocker box?

Thanks for any authoritative replies.

Hi,

The best outdoor finish is a spar urethane varnish (a high oil content
varnish). They tend to be very yellowish, though. Next best is a
polyurethane finish (e.g., Varathane, etc). This is followed by
varnishes, lacquers, and shellacs, all of which have decreasing
resistance to water. The worst for water resistance is straight oil
or wax.

The one that's the least odious to apply with the best water
resistance is probably the water-based polyurethane.

If you choose an oil or wax you may want to take care as some of them
have a very long cure time.

My second hobby (besides astronomy) is furniture making.

Cheers,
Nate Perkins
Ft Collins, CO

John Steinberg:
I'm *consulting on the construction of a truss tube Dob and the rocker
box is nearing completion. Ideally, it will be stained with a
water-based but water-resistant clear stain that lets the beauty of the
wood show through with zero or minimal color/tint added.

I'm off to Lowes and/or Home Depot later today and soliciting brand
names and/or the type of product most suitable for this type of job.

The shop in question is poorly ventilated so if there's something on
the market that does the above without noxious fumes, still better.

If nothing available meets the listed criteria, what would be the best
product to achieve a durable, clear finish on the rocker box?

Thanks for any authoritative replies.

Minwax Polycrylic is a water-based polyurethane that will keep fumes to
a minimum and provide a handsome finish. I recommend the satin. It will
not yellow. It is easy to apply.

Someone mentioned spar varnish as the best outdoor finish. That's true,
but it should be mentioned that it's the best of a poor lot; there is
no such thing as a clear finish that will stand up to UV. Only paints
will do that. I'm assuming that the truss-tube and rocker box will not
be exposed to the sun day-in and day-out. If that's so, the Minwax that
I mentioned will be quite suitable.

Finishing tip: don't over-sand the wood. There is the risk of sanding
through the thin outer ply. A light hand-sanding with 120 or 150 grit
will be adequate. Save the sanding for the finish; for the first two or
three coats follow the instructions on the can; then wet sand with 600
grit, followed by finer grits, down as far as necessary for the desired
smoothness. Very fine grits are available at better auto supply stores
under the 3M brand. A final burnishing with burlap will leave a really
great finish. Finishing requires time and patience; it will not be
hurried.

Davoud

I hope this reaches you in time; I've been away in North Carolina,
where life is so primitive and the people so out of touch with the
world that many of them actually have "Bush" signs in their front yards
-- though a surprising number have been awake the past four years and
have Kerry signs.

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

Davoud wrote in message ...
[...]
I hope this reaches you in time; I've been away in North Carolina,
where life is so primitive and the people so out of touch with the
world that many of them actually have "Bush" signs in their front yards
-- though a surprising number have been awake the past four years and
have Kerry signs.

Probably from drinking too much shine or squeeze.