Ok, door is done except for some final touches and sanding. I really like the ease of shellac, so that is to be the protective coat. I would like bring out the wood grain and achieve the rich cherry finish seen so often. This is the first door of six and I plan to use the same finish for all the trim (also cherry) throughout the house, so repeatability is important. I have read about chemical staining, but I don’t believe that would be a good start. I plan to complete mock-ups, but sure would appreciate some advice to start. Dye, stain….?? If stain, some product suggestions would be very helpful. I have attached a pic of the door before I began assembly.
thanks
Replies
Is this an interior door or and exterior door. If it is an interior door Shellac is a nice finish ####few people on this site talk about it sometimes:). For an exterior door I would use a good spar varnish like one of the Epifanes products.
Troy
It is an interior door. I do not think the shellac by itself will bring out the color, so i need to start with staining of some form.
Shellac will look very good on cherry. Staining the cherry can dull the grain--let nature (sunlight) provide more color.
My vote is a quick oil treatment followed by shellac.Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
I think that is where I will start with some mock-ups. I read through Kiddervilleacres posts about the cherry blotchiness, and think that is a good start.
thanks
One of the darker shellac varieties will do a lot to "pop" the grain and bring out the color. The difference between shellac alone and shellac over oil is pretty darn small.
thks for the tips. This finishing is quite complicated when you take the time to read and listen to professionals. I used to just pick out the stain and protective coat from the local shop the day finishing was supposed to start. Ahh, what happened to those days. Like everything along the way, i sure gain respect for those working at the craft for a living.
I am also contemplating the tenon pins. I was thinking of walnut, but given the finishing difficulty with little pegs i think I will use ebony or another dark hardwood.
I am having some stress over cherry now because I suggested a unstained cherry cabinet finish to the DW and when she saw the results she started worring that they where to light and they would not be as dark as the cherry china hutch that I built several years ago. Oh well:) I am sure that your door will be fine weather you use shellac or an oil finish.Troy
I sure hear you about stressing about things. I have the same problem. Finishing is make or break, and sure can be a lot more involved if you take the time to ask a few questions.
thks for the vote of confidence, now to do some trials.
I agree with SteveS. I would use a dark amber shellac if that is the finish you choose and let nature do the art work. Stained cherry can go south in a hurry and even when it doesn't blotch I think stain makes it muddier than a seal coat of dark amber shellac. Spraying the finish will improve the quality, but if you don't spray shellac is pretty forgiving. I built a mission coffee table and mission sofa table out of cherry in Nov. and they are already much darker. (sprayed lacquer)
Terry
thks.
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