Replies

1. 
   forrestb | Feb 07, 2015 11:21am | #1

   Finishing maple plywood

   I don't have experience finishing maple ply and solid, but I just finished (no pun intended) a BB ply and birch solid wood project and have used this process on four other projects. What I did:

   Obviously sand down to the same grit on both with the grain.

   Apply Charles Neil's Pre-color Conditioner. That is water-based so it will raise the grain.

   Gently sand the fuzz off.

   Use Lockwood water-based dyes for the color that you want.  And that is a key because you can find out from your test pieces what concetration is required for the ply vs. what concentration is required for the solid in order to get matching color..  A hastle for sure, but it works.  If you are lucky the same concentration will be needed, but if not you are faced with color before assembly of the ply to solid.

   Don't forget to sand & condition your test pieces just like the real pieces.

   Apply whatever final finish you want but do not use a solvent or more water to "clean off" the project before final finish.  I have found that can sometimes affect the dyed color.

   Forrest

1. 
   steve01 | Feb 08, 2015 10:42am | #2

   Thanks for the feedback on this. I've not had much experience with water based finishes but I'll give it a try on some test pieces.

1. 
   forrestb | Feb 08, 2015 11:56am | #3

   finishing maple plywood

   Actually, stve01, the Lockwood dye is not a "finish" it is just a coloring agent like an oil-based stain.  It use to be called an aniline dye, but those were toxic, these are not.  The dye is supposed to get deeper into the grain than a stain. You may put any finish over it, oil-based or water-based or shellac.

   Contact Lockwood for their advice.  They helped me a couple of times since I am not world-reknown for finishing knowledge.

   Forrest