r/finishing

What products should we apply to the outdoor Cedar ceiling to make it look like the indoor section. A few details: we have sanded the outdoor section.It is sheilded from the elements, up and under a porch, but we live close to the ocean. The indoor section has a nice golden amber hue to it with a matte finish. In order to get the outdoor section to look the same, should we stain it or seal it, or both? If so, what recommended colors and recommended products finishes should we use? Also. Oill or water??? Yeah, and how long should we wait between applications? Thanks in advance!!!

Google drive video

I finished a desk easel for my sister and am trying to finish it with shellac. This is my first time using shellac. It is poplar.

I sanded it down to 400 grit and then used a tack cloth from Lowe’s to remove the dust. Then I thinned out the Zinder clear shellac with 190 proof everclear. I used a rolled up cotton cloth as a pad and sanded in between the first couple coats. The most recent several coats have been with the addition of some oil on the pad for polishing.

The finish is looking shinier and looks good from afar but when I actually look from under the light I can see a bunch of inconsistency as shown in the video. How do I got about fixing this?

Thanks!

Hi! I’m looking to sand this down and use Rubio monocoat charcoal oil on it. There is one part that seems lighter than the rest of the table, would that be noticeable?
Thanks

I recently picked up this carved Sasquatch from an antique shop. Seems to be some sort of palm wood judging by the softness of the material. I’d like to keep him outside exposed to rain. Looking for advice on a sealant to keep him intact for as long as possible. I’m not confident that there is a solution based on the type of wood. If I have to, I’ll keep him under an eve but would love to have him in the woods. Thanks for any tips.

I am going to seal up a wooden curio cabinet to keep plants inside of so it will maintain an incredibly high internal humidity constantly. Some water may spill as well occasionally. I don’t care that it lasts FOREVER but a few years without having to worry about warping or rotting would be nice. My Home Depot sells spar urethane but not spar varnish, but I see many people online recommending varnish instead for greenhouses. Will there be a major difference in the long run or will they be functionally the same for the next 5 years?

Something wet was placed on the seat overnight. The finish is black milk paint with three coats of tung oil on top. Is there anything to do to get rid of those appearance without fully stripping it down and starting over?

Hey everyone
I have a friend who is stripping all the wood in their house, all doors trim and baseboards. They used TSP, wiped that down with a clean rag and then some sanding. This is the only door that looked like this after that process. Does anyone know why this happened? And any ways to remedy it?
Included pic of another door to show how everything else looks. They are maple.

Edit: the spots showed up after the TSP, before sanding. They tried sanding more to get it out, but that made it worse

I’m trying to match what the previous owner of my home did and I’m a newbie. I am frustrated with many unsuccessful attempts at getting this deep contrast. Everything I do is more flat.

Hey everyone, looking for some tips so I don't rush this and make it look worse.

My kitchen cabinets were just professionally sprayed with Dunn-Edwards DecoGlo (semi-gloss). They look great, but my dad accidentally nicked a sharp 90-degree outer corner. It’s just a few hairline scratches, but the white primer underneath is peeking through.

How should i approach fixing this corner? Is there a specific brush I should use? Or would just a toothpick be better for a thin corner scratch? Should I dab it or brush paint on?

I’m not a painter. So honestly, any guided advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I have a set of 4 of these pine chairs. Some are in better condition that others but they all have nicks in them or bits of stain missing or blobs of paint. My goal is to get back to the bare wood and put a clear coat on top.

✨️I was wondering if I could have recommendations on the best way to approach this?

I've done a table in the past using just sand paper (i have a flat electric sander) but my concern with the chairs is the curved spindles and the details on the legs. I think we have a heat gun in the shed but I need to double check. I know i have some 120 grit sand paper, maybe some 80 and 160. I was looking at some stripper but they have mixed reviews and or needed to be used 3 times. I don't have an indoor space to do this so I'll be dodging rain in NE England.

I've just bought a lovely Danish teak extendable dining table. I’m not 100% sure how it’s currently finished but it looks and feels quite worn and dry.

There are quite a lot of white cloudy water marks across the surface. I’ve been using an iron and cloth and some marks are fading but most are still there. I’m now wondering whether I should sand it back but I’m pretty sure it’s veneer so worried about going through it!

Also what finish would you recommend afterwards (oil vs wax)? I’m trying to keep a natural Danish look - not too orange or dark.

Any advice on what to do next appreciated, especially from anyone experienced with teak furniture. Thanks!

I’m building a facade that abuts an existing cabinet. The cabinets have a maple-ish veneer. The maple I’m using seems close in color, but warmer than the veneer. The sample I’m showing has a water based satin poly cost. Any advice on getting the colors a bit closer?

Can anyone offer any advice for a beginner on the best way to restore the chipping finish on this table? I inherited this table with its set of chairs that I really love and would really like to clean it up, but have no idea where to start. It seems like the finish is chipping off in a few spots and I'm not sure if this is something I can touch up or if the whole thing needs to be refinished.

I've never done anything like this before, so I'd appreciate any advice on whats going on and the best way to fix it without messing it up. Thanks!

I started refinishing my dad's desk. I sanded off the old finish, cleaned off the dust, and used this poly-stain all over. I applied with a brush and wiped off the excess and it went on nicely everywhere except the top. The first coat went ok, but the second coat was a thick sticky mess. I ended up scraping a lot of it off and I sanded a bit also but it clogged up my sanding pads so quickly I quit. Now the edges are brown and the center is purple? What should I do next? Its solid wood but I'm not sure what kind

Hi all, as the title states - Mahogany door. Laser stripped, then fully sanded. Stained and then multiple coats of spar, 48 hours between coats. This panel gets full sun in the morning hours, and blistered along the seams as seen in the angled photo within 24 hours of hanging. Pulled it, redid it with a bit more time between coats (48 hours+). Blistered again within 24 hours of hanging, right after heating up in the morning sun, this time NOT on the seams as seen in the straight-on 2nd photo. Ideas?

Hello all, wanted to ask on some recommendations on what finish to use for an old solid wood front door. My house was built in 1936 and I’m not sure if the door is just as old or was replaced at a later year but it definitely needs some love. For reference the door is in full exposure to the sun for quite a few hours of the day. So the finish needs to have UV protection. I’ve read that Marine-Grade Spar Finish is the best for this application but was wondering if you guys recommend any particular brand and if there is anything specific I should be aware of while using this type of finish. I love woodworking and built some simple furniture and done some staining and finishing but never used Marine-grade finish, just oil finish and polyurethane. What brand is the best for this type of project and would you recommend a sealer? See attached photos of the door. My last question would be: is this something I should be attempting on my own or should I leave this to the professionals? I heard that I might not be able to close the door for over a day while it dries so I’m a little bit concerned about that part. Thanks in advance!