My son just finished his new home and the front door, (we are pretty sure) is made of fir. It has not been finished. He wants to stain it a light brown. He is worried about blotching. It is all straight grained wood. It has been sanded to about 150-180. Has anyone had experience with finishing fir or knows whether we should expect blotching and how you would recommend minimizing the blotching.
Frank
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Replies
My wife and I build a mantle out of fir. We were worried about the end grain being darker than the rest of the piece. We used thinned hide glue as sizing. We applied it with a brush and let it dry for 24 hours. It was then lightly sanded and wiped down with mineral spirits. The stain is exactly the same over the entire project. No blotching and the end grain is the same as all the rest. I think one can buy already prepared hide glue made for this. You might try Highland Woodworking.
The only FIR I have worked with was Old Growth, straight grain.. I had a source back then when making replacement doors for very old houses..
I love Fir.. It does NOT stain very well.. Period! Sort of like common pine does at best!
Just a suggestion because I am FAR from an expert on finishing anything...
Acrylic paints, Faux finishes work well. As does Minwax water-based wood stain.
Decorator Tint Formula that can be made in many colors.
http://www.minwax.com/products/wood_stains/water_based_wood_stain.cfm
NO I have nothing to do with Minwax. I just use it alot!
WG
If you go to this website http://www.antiquesbuiltdaily.com Charles Neil has all the answers. E-mail him and tell what you want to do and he will gladly give you all RIGHT info.
Thanks but I gave up on a 'proper' finish for Pine and Fir.. I just stain with a few coats.. Of Tinted Minwax water based. Or Acrylic paints!
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