Replies

1. 
   user-148830 | Jul 24, 2008 02:44am | #1

   George,
   I'd try oxalic acid for the nail stains. Good luck with that. Those stains may be pretty deep. Use hot water with the oxalic acid for slightly better results. Mix it up and sponge it onto the nail holes. Wait for the magic to occur. I hope it does.

   As for staining the patches, it's tough to experiment on the actual piece. Sealing will just prevent absorption and you need more color not less. I'd consider sealing the rest of the door with a coat of shellac and then applying your color. You might also consider fuming the door with ammonia.

   Now, as to a final finish.

   I have seen a lot of Westerns. And every time you see these guys in Texas, they all look thirsty and dusty. And the corrals and the barns all look like they're about to crumble into more dust. What I'm getting at here is this: I have lived in Oregon most of my life. It's wet here. Most of the time it's wet here. Your kind of problem I only dream about. So my answer to you is only a guess as to what will work in the south Texas sun. Here goes anyway.

   Use a good long oil varnish like a spar varnish. This will allow for more movement over time as it will have more oil in it. Get one with a UV inhibitor and put on about 35 coats. Just kidding, but I'd put on a bunch of coats. First coat make pretty wet. I'd cut it about 25% -75% varnish to thinner. Wet. Get it to soak in well. Put on a couple of coats of this.

   Switch to a 50%-50% mix for the next 3 coats [both sides of the door of course] and then finish up maybe 60%-40%, maybe 75%-25%, varnish to thinner. More thin coats will be better and easier to apply than heavy coats. But keep an eye on this over time and see how the varnish holds up in the sunshine. You might need to recoat every two years, at a minimum, to keep the finish looking good. Or hold a parasol over the door in the morning hours. Good luck. Sound like cool doors. All the best, Gary

1. 
   frontdoors | Jul 24, 2008 03:27am | #2

   Thanks a million.
   George