Replies

1. 
   BG | Jan 25, 2003 02:51am | #1

   Guy,

   I have not worked with staining poplar but its base color suggests to me you'd do well to seal it before staining.  This would give you a more even stain and block any existing color in the poplar.  Also, before you decide on an acceptable color take the sample all the way through to completion.  good luck   

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 25, 2003 04:34am | #2

   Guy

      I have worked poplar often. I agree with BG to seal it before you apply the stain. Gel-stain would be better than oil stain as it does not penetrate deeply. The surface is what you see anyway. Poplar will blotch easily if not handled properly.

   Mucho luck....

   sarge..jt

3. 
   Shepherd1800 | Jan 25, 2003 03:46pm | #3

   I have had good luck using a red iron oxide dry powdered pigment in linseed oil/ turpentine (50/50) for the first coat.  Wiped on in a circular motion then wiped off in the direction of the grain.  This is allowed to dry for 24 hours. Then a seal coat of very thin (1/4 pound cut) shellac followed by a coat of oil/turps with burnt umber dry powdered pigment applied as above.  Then another thin coat of shellac and maybe marine spar varnish or more shellac. By building up the stain the color is richer than just a single application of stain.

   As for 'blotch', it is the nature of the wood and I like it.  If you want something that is prefectly uniform use something besides wood.  Figured wood is highly blotchy and we pay extra for it!

   Stephen Shepherd

   http://www.ilovewood.com

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 25, 2003 11:32pm | #4

   Stephen

      Good point about the blotch. ha..ha Your finish method sounds like it has potential. I will give it a try as I use a lot of poplar, white and red oak (I'm poor). < G >

   Have a good weekend...

   sarge..jt

4. 
   goldhiller | Jan 26, 2003 07:02am | #5

   Here are two examples of poplar finished with a seal coat of MagnaMax followed by coloration with Mohawk shading and toning lacquer and two more coats of MagnaMax. All coats must be sprayed.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.

   
1. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 27, 2003 03:53am | #6

   G H

      Looking good on both counts. I think after fooling with WW for 30 years, it's time for me to figure how how to finish. ha..ha

   Great work and G'day...

   sarge..jt

2. 
   Elmaflash | Feb 13, 2003 03:58pm | #9

   Thanks for the input and the great pictures. I do have access to spray equipment; however, all of my woodworking is done in the basement where I have a furnace and hot water tank and I'm very reluctant to use volitile sprays. I do all of my work by hand (brushes and rubbing) but would like some ideas on safe (non-volitile) spraying.

5. 
   noone51 | Jan 27, 2003 06:27am | #7

   First, I do like poplar as an inexpensive wood that builds well. It does have color strains that cause it to stain rather oddly. The whiter sap wood does take color well while the greenish colored heartwood is a little less likely to hold the depth that I think you are looking for.

   However............................. It does tan well and you can use a UV light source to make it look like fresh cherry if you work at it. How's your patience level..

1. 
   Seeker | Jan 27, 2003 09:14pm | #8

   How much UV does it take for poplar to tan?  I've left a piece in a south facing window for several days now, with no noticeable change.  Of course, here in the Pacific Northwest, we don't get that much sun at this time of year!

1. 
   noone51 | Feb 14, 2003 06:16am | #10

   Guy, up north of the border you will surely have troubles getting it to tan and when I speak of tanning I am talking about going from whitesh green to slightly brown not brown to dark brown like carefully nurtured cherry.

   Still though, when it is tanned in normal UV light, it does start to take on the same color characteristics but it takes a significant amount of time to get there.

   How long does it take? Well, I'm not really sure since its just the result of comparison on my part and it might have been over a long period of time. You know, one piece of scrap here and another one over there. It did manage to fool me for a minute when I was tyring to do a fixit job recently.