Good Morning Peter:
My friend has asked me to spray clear coat on his new mahogany front door after he has stained it. I have given him a copy or your FINE WOODWORKING article on how best to finish mahogany. Question: How should we approach finishing an unfinished mahogany door that will be exposed to the weather here in Stockton CA?
Thanks for your Help!
MIKE EDWARDS
Replies
Hi Mike,
The article for finishing mahogany is strictly an interior finish.
To get the most out of an exterior finish, you'd need to paint it.
You may consider a coating like Sikens although I'm not sure about it's compatibility with the stain you plan on using. Check into this preservative as I know a lot of people like it.
Your other option is to varnish it. The top grades of varnishes are ones such as Petit, Interlux etc. They are the top of the line in performance and price.
The next tier would include McCloskey Spar varnish which you can find at any good paint store. I've used this brand with good success on many doors here in the northeast.
On a new door you'll need to apply at least five coats. As each coat dries, you'll need to sand it and clean prior to applying the next coat.
If it sounds like a lot of work, it is. It will need to be maintained also. Depending on which way it faces the sun you need to plan on sanding the topcoat and reapplying a couple of coats yearly or every eighteen months.
I'm not trying to scare you but make your friend aware of the work involved so they don't think you've done something wrong if they don't maintain it. It's a lot more than just "spraying a clear coat"
Peter
Peter:
Thanks for your response. It confirms what I thought.
MIKE EDWARDS
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