Finish Recipe: Cricket Table

An arts-and-crafts-looking finish, but without the fuming
by Chris Gochnour

Finish and application: Dye, stain, topcoat, and
rub out

Skill level:
Inter-
mediate

Finish
products: TransTint
Golden-Brown Dye,
General Finishes
Brown-Mahogany Gel
Stain, Zinsser Bulls-eye SealCoat,
Behlen's Wool-Lube

Project type: Cricket table

Maker: Chris Gochnour

Material: Quartersawn white oak

Be sure you do a finish sample using these steps and products before you finish your table. Remove the top and shelf first.

STEP-BY-STEP

1. Sand
Sand all surfaces through P180-grit sandpaper. Use the sandpaper to lightly round over the edges to make them comfortable to the touch.

2. Dye
Color the wood with TransTint Golden-Brown Dye, using denatured alcohol as a base. Mix the dye according to the manufacturer's suggested ratio. Apply with a brush or rag. It yields a rich, transparent base.

3. Stain
When the dye dries, stain the table with General Finishes Brown Mahogany Gel Stain. Apply it with a rag. The stain deepens the color tone, darkens the pores, and makes the medullary rays stand out.

4. Topcoat
Add a clear topcoat by brushing on two coats of Zinsser SealCoat.

5. Rub out
Rub the clear topcoat to a satin sheen using 0000-grade steel wool and Behlen's Wool Lube.