Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Aug 11, 2006 06:19pm | #1

   I recommend an oil based varnish.  Behlen's Rockhard is excellent.  I would avoid single part polyurethane since for a plant stand you need lots of water protection.  While poly is good at this, I think it is also necessary to build a thicker coating than on typical furniture, and when you do this with poly its  cloudiness creates an unattractive look.  I'd use 4 or more coats of brushed on varnish on the top.  Since this is for an interior application you don't need spar or marine varnishes.  They aren't more waterproof, just more flexible, as is needed for the wide temperature and humidity swings of exterior application.  The marine varnish adds UV inhibitors to spar's flexibility, again not of much benefit for interior applications. 

1. 
   hghesser | Aug 11, 2006 06:48pm | #2

   Thanks so much for your recommendation Steve.  Any suggestions as far as a redish stain?

   Thanks again

   Harv

    

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Aug 11, 2006 07:09pm | #3

   Pine is a challenge to stain, since with oil based stains two problems can occur--one is "blotching" where the stain takes unevenly, and the other is where stain colors the early wood differently than the late wood, potentially giving a "wild" grain look on flat sawn pine, and a zebra striped look on rift- or quartersawn.  If you use a "conditioner" or wash coat of shellac you can control these effects, but at the expense of not being able to achieve much darkness.  I would use a water mixed dye--such as Transtint, or the Lockwood dyes carried by Woodworkers Supply.  You should experiment on scraps of the same wood to see if you like the effects before working on the project itself. 

1. 
   hghesser | Aug 11, 2006 07:40pm | #4

   Thank you so much for your help on this project Steve.  I now have direction!

   Harv