Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 08, 2009 06:46am | #1

   Did you make the armoire or did it come from a factory?  How old is it?

   Do you have spray capabilities? 

   Is it really desirable to have all the furniture in the room very dark?  I wouldn't do it from a design point of view, but if potential alimony (or curtailment of the new tool budget) is involved.....

1. 
   mytthor | Mar 08, 2009 09:25pm | #2

   I purchased the armoire unfinished and applied the stain and the finish. I do have an HVLP sprayer. I wife wants to move away from the light oak look. Thanks for any suggestions you might have.Tim

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 08, 2009 09:53pm | #4

   If you can spray, then you could use a toned finish to apply color coats over the existing finish. Of course it needs scuff sanding as mentioned, but before that it also needs a very thorough cleaning--first TSP solution to remove water soluble grime, and then with naphtha to remove oily grime.  Item's in bedrooms don't pick up as much grime as those in kitchens, but it still is a sound precaution.  Then do the scuff sanding.  Dewaxed shellac is still a decent idea over polyurethane, but shouldn't really be necessary since the poly has had plenty of time to be well cured. 

   Don't try to achieve the full darkening in one or two coats, keep the toning on light side and work up to it in several coats.  That really helps keep things looking even and professional.   Don't shoot for even an approximate match to the new pieces.  People will think you tried to match and didn't get their.  Make them different enough that no one would imagine you tried to make them match. 

   ONe more thing.  For best results, first make a test board that you first finish similarly to how you did the armoire, and then which you practice spraying the finish with dye in it. 

   Edited 3/8/2009 2:57 pm ET by SteveSchoene

1. 
   mytthor | Mar 09, 2009 06:33am | #5

   Thanks for the suggestions.I would prefer to spray a water based finish. Do you have any recommendations? Also what would you recommend to tint the finish? My wife is reconsidering how dark she would like to make the armoire so I still need to have a plan to the project.

1. 
   terrylee86 | Mar 09, 2009 03:31pm | #6

   I would check out Sherwin-Williams Kem Aqua water-based lacquer. You can read about it on their website http://www.sherwin-williams.com/oem/us/eng/products/substrates/wood/ and also check out their universal dye concentrates to tint your lacquer. I think they are a little pricey on the dye, I have always used http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm to tint my lacquer for a shading effect. I am sure there are other water-based lacquers that people like, but Kem Aqua is a good product from a good company. I have used Mohawk, Behlen's, M.L. Campbell, but I keep coming back to SW and I think I am going to stay there now. That site has all their wood finishing products and you can talk to a guy in their store if you have a professional finishing store in your area.

2. 
   DavidKul | Mar 08, 2009 09:29pm | #3

   I wouldn't try to put anything over the poly finish without knocking the gloss off of it with some very fine sandpaper. You won't get a reliable finish without this step. Poly is just too hard for anything to grip onto it without giving it the "tooth" that the sanding does for you. I would use wet-or-dry paper with water or mineral spirits as a lubricant to keep from loading up the paper. Remember. all you need to do is uniformly scratch up the surface - you're not cutting down to bare wood. De-waxed shellac or a shellac-based sealer (like Zinsser's Seal Coat) will make a good bonding coat for the gel stain. A couple coats will ensure that the sanding scratches don't show when you apply the gel stain.