I am in the process of building frameless cabinets for my kitchen. I am using red birch for the doors and drawers.
Here is my dilemma. I cannot decide on a finish that I can apply in my low tech garage. A wipe on or brush on finish is what I am looking at.
What would you recommend to bring out the beautiful red undertones of this wood?
I have tried 5 different finishes.
1. Brush on oil poly – looks too yellow but nice sheen and depth
2. brush on water poly – looks too dull, lifeless
3. brush on lacquer – too plasticy
4. wipe on tung oil finish – too smelly
5. wipe on varnish – also smelly
I guess I am trying to find a finish that have depth and will not take a year to dry!
Replies
Without spraying, an oil-based varnish will offer the most protection, though lacquer and water-borne finishes are probably adequate but significantly below the oil-based.
Water-borne finishes can be livened up by the addition of a few drops of a amber or brown dye (TransTint).
You can also get a traditional resin varnish that is much less yellow than the typical poly. For example, Pratt&Lambert 38 is much lighter than most linseed based varnishes since it is made using soya oil. McCloskey Heirloom is also light. These could be wiped on, thinning with a low odor thinner if that is a major issue.
You could apply one light coat of a smelly oil--like boiled linseed oil--to enhance the grain. When it has cured you can apply a waterborne top coat. But if you use a waterborne top coat, you should give the oil a thorough curing time, as much as a week.
Keep up the experimentation. That's how to avoid problems, on what is one of the bigger, most visible projects you can undertake.
Thanks Steve, I will try those finishes. My goal is to bring out the grain, and shimmer of the red birch without a 'saran wrap' look! I have seen this on furniture at woodworking shows but never know what it is! The 'barely there' look is something i really like.
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