Replies

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 29, 2009 01:41pm | #1

   JP,

   Min Wax Polycrylic was recommended to me for some birch stairs I recently made.  To tell you the truth this was the first time I'd used a water based finish and I gotta say I don't lke it.  Maybe I didn't apply it correctly but did follow the can instructions.

   It's not so much the finish but the color that leaves me cold to it.  I can't think of the right way to describe it but to me the finish looks, well, cold.  It may very well be that it's because I'm old, too used to the look of shellac and other finishes.

   You didn't mention where these cabinets were to be installed and that could make a difference as to what I would use for a finish, i.e. kitchen, bathroom vs living room or bedroom.  A choice might also include how you envision maintaining them, i.e. occasioanal wipe down with a damp rag vs chemical cleaners.

   Can ye give us just a few more details?  I think you may get more responses with a bit more info.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   JPierre | Apr 29, 2009 03:05pm | #3

   I'm building kitchen cabinets. The problem is that Yellow birch is'nt easy to stain as far as I'm concerned! It has a tendency to blotch. I often use "SAMAN" water stain wich is a high quality water stain. They offer beautifull colors and I was considering finishing with "Bowling Alley" varnish!Thank you,JP

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 29, 2009 07:43pm | #8

   JP,

   Maybe try Zinseers (sp?) Seal Coat first.  This is a dewaxed shellac and allows you to put almost anything on top of it, including most stains.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   JPierre | Apr 29, 2009 08:04pm | #10

   Thank you much for the info! I'll try that on a test frane of yellow birch, a kind of wood we have a lot up here.Thank you all guys,Woodworkers are great guys !!

2. 
   HowardAcheson | Apr 29, 2009 05:26pm | #6

   >> Min Wax Polycrylic was recommended to me for some birch stairs I recently made. To tell you the truth this was the first time I'd used a water based finish and I gotta say I don't lke it. Maybe I didn't apply it correctly but did follow the can instructions.Just a couple of things that come to mind from your posting. First, Minwax recommends not using Polycrylic for floors. I would extend that to stairs. It's quite slippery and not very protective and durable. Second, unlike an oil based finish which gets an amber tone from linseed oil, waterborne finishes are clear when they dry. I believe the Minwax products specifically intended for floors contain an amber dye to replicate the warmer tone of oil based finishes. The floor products also dry to a harder, longer lasting film.Howie.........

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 29, 2009 07:48pm | #9

   Thanks Howie,

   I wasn't aware of that, thank you.  All kinds of good info. for the OP and others.  This guy at the hardware store even went so far as to tell me he used it on staits too.

   Ya know, I think I'll just let it wear out and then strip it and put shellac on.  It has a warmer color to me anyway.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 29, 2009 02:00pm | #2

   What do you have in mind as far as coloring?   Why a water based stain, and do you have a brand in mind? 

   As far as top coats, how are these cabinets to be used?  Do you have spray capabilities? 

1. 
   JPierre | Apr 29, 2009 03:13pm | #4

   I don't want to change the color drastically. Just a little darken on the brown side! I can spay but on Yellow Birch I'll probably have to "draw" the stain, I mean putting more here and there and wiping differently from one part to another. Blotching is what i'm scared of. Of course I could put an equalizer but with water stain... I'm not sure!ThanksJP Maher (Québec) Canada

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 29, 2009 04:55pm | #5

   You might consider using a dye instead of a stain.  Dye has much less tendency to blotch.  Dye would be applied very liberally--I use a sponge--so that the concentration of the dye mix determines the color, not special care in applying and wiping. 

   Spraying stain is one way to avoid blotching.  But, it must be done evenly so that it requires no wiping.  That way it doesn't remain in the more porous areas and get wiped away from the less. 

3. 
   piker | Apr 29, 2009 05:26pm | #7

   I have stayed away from water-based stains & finishes after a few initial attempts. I don't like either the stains or top coats. I have had good results staining blotch-prone woods such as birch & pine with Flecto Gel stains. Cover liberally with a brush & wipe down immediately with a cloth. After 24 hrs., topcoat with poly or my favourite is a sprayed pre-catalized lacquer. Been using this method for years.