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I just finished stripping and staing a bunch of doorways in my house, the wood is original about 100 years old. Now i am at the finishing stage. The wood is a mix, from Pine, a little Oak, Birch, Fir, very strange, but it looks good – anyway the stain went on pretty well, it definately has an antique look. But what type of finish should I use? I have poly semi gloss, should I use a gloss coat instead? Is gloss the mroe traditional type of finish? Should I use Varnish?
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Replies
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Semi-gloss would give a more a traditional finish. A hand-rubbed oil and wax finish even more so, IMO.
*The traditional finish 100 years ago would have probably been shellac or Boiled linseed oil/turpentine. But that's probably been refinished many times in the past 100 years. Poly is more durable and dries clear. Varnish is more traditional, and dries with a slight amber color that many feel adds a "warmth". It's a personal preference. Gloss finishes are typically "harder"/more durable. Semi-glosses diffuse some of the color bouncing off a piece by adding fine, almost microscopic, particles (that's why semi or flat varnishes appear "cloudier" than a gloss when fully stirred.) These diffusers weaken/replace some of the hardeners in the gloss. Many refinishers will use gloss for the 1st and 2nd coats, then use a semi or eggshell for the final coat. This way they get durablity AND less gloss.
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