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I have a question about a method of finishing. I have read literature from cabinet makers that mention a finish they call “chocolate glaze” – or something similar to that. What are they talking about?
I am finishing a large cabinet w/ drawers on bottom and doors on top. I have distressed the wood and applied a dark green stain. However, the color is a little too much green and needs to be “toned down”. I’m trying to think of a finish that can be applied that will have that effect and also have a flat luster to keep the finish from looking too “new”.
I have several options to try, but if someone has a good suggestion, I am open to it.
1. “buff” sand the surface to dull the coloring;
2. apply a Watco finish with some coloring in it; (My sample of this didn’t have the effect I was hoping for. I was using a medium walnut finish. Should I try a darker color? I also tried a combo stain/polyurethane but that didn’t do much at all.)
3. Apply a “chocolate glaze”, which I can’t figure out how to do…
4. Some combination of these…
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A glaze is a slow-drying translucent colored finish applied over sealed wood. One of my favorite finishes for White Oak is to dye it a medium to light color, seal (generally with shellac, unless I'm out), and glaze with a darker shade of the same color. You get a lot of control with a glaze that you don't get with stain on raw wood.
I assume the word "chocolate" refers to the color.
To reduce the green tint of your cabinet, you use green's complement, red. Very sparingly, or you will get black. Now is not too late to make yourself a test board to sample fixes.
Dave
*Glazing is just one of several techniques you can use to change the color and overall look of a finish. A glaze is essentially a thinned-down paint or a heavy-bodied pigment stain mixed with oil. Traditionally, glazing is done after staining, but before the final clear finish is applied. You brush it on, and then wipe it off; controlling how much color you leave on the surface by how vigorously you wipe it off.If you have a project with a greenish cast, then you need to add some red--assuming the end result you're looking for is a brown color. You can get that result by adding a coat of red dye stain, or you can use a glaze. The dye stain will give you a more even overall color; the glaze will do the job more with highlights of color, and add more depth to the finish. Fine Woodworking magazine has covered this subject extensively in the past few years, in articles by Jeff Jewitt, Chris Minick and others. See the following issues:#137, p. 118; #144, p130; #147, p. 72; #148, p. 48; #150, p.114.
*Where can I find instructions for glazing cabinetry?
*Where can I find specific instructions for glazing cabinetry?
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