How to preserve rainbow Poplar colors?
bradleyheathhays
| Posted in General Discussion on
Title says it all.
One…is there any way to preserve the colors of rainbow poplar?
and
Two…how faded does rainbow poplar get when it’s exposed to the sun?
Replies
The best thing you can do is use a finish with really strong UV blockers -- a marine finish. But it's just delaying the inevitable.
And be sure to renew the UV finish, see on globy.com, every few years. When exposed directly to sunlight, rainbow poplar wood can begin to fade relatively quickly, within a few months.
The shelf I put under my workbench had that natural beauty of rainbow poplar you are showing. It turned to a nice sea of browns and it is still nice looking and it fondly reminds me how beautiful it was when the wood was young; not unlike us as we age. Realistically, I don't think you can stop it.
When I first started, I made an under-saw cabinet and was captivated by the beautiful look of finished African Paduk.
I am now reminded daily that I shall never again be caught in the honey trap of colored woods as every day that passes, I see less red and more poop color.
Naivete strikes again.
Yea, knowing what a wood will become over a few years is much more important that how it looks freshly planed. For cherry, I let a piece "sunbath" on a few weekends after I had finished it just to help hasten it getting there.
Cherry huh. how did it end up? was it the raw peice or the finish that changed?
I am always being told not to bother with the pretty colored woods as they ALL will fade with time into ugly, muddy browns leaving you...or the recipient disappointed.
Even with the UV blockers, even being inside only, is ultimately inevitable.
Of course. no idea if that's actually true. I've just heard this from everyone I know who knows anything about wood.
Thanks for all the comments. I've asked this question on other wood boards as well and the consensus is the same as here. There's no stopping the browning, just slowing it down a bit with some kind of UV block.
Up in Santa Rosa, CA, there is a father and son team called Prowell Woodworks that focuses on garden gates and fences. As such, they have a thought or two about long term sun exposure (the most extreme most wood will ever face). I know I went through this decisions myself about 7 years ago when we needed to put up a new fence and I decided best tojust let it go grey. Obviously fine furniture doesn't bake all day in the sun. My approach has been to finish it as I prefer and then let the wood turn whatever color it will over time rather than try and fight it. If I don't like what it will do, I will either use a different wood or paint it.
https://prowellwoodworks.com/exterior-finishes/
Brian went to North Bennett and has a separate YouTube channel on the fine furniture he builds.