Comments on: Four Common Finishing Mistakes (and how to avoid them) https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/ WOOD Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:23:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Eric https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-4/#comment-20517 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:23:12 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20517 In reply to Michelle.

I really try to give the builders the benefit of the doubt whenever possible, but to be honest, the stain on these cabinets…. (Attempting restraint.) It could definitely be better. The streaks and visible brush strokes with stain absolutely should not be there–the only justification that I could think of would be if they were somehow going for a “distressed” look.

]]> By: Michelle https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-4/#comment-20513 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:43:41 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20513 Previous post would not attached pictures

]]> By: Michelle https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-4/#comment-20512 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:41:17 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20512 Hello Eric,
I’m hoping you can help me. I’m having cabinets made in Puerto Vallarta and am not happy with how they are turning out. They are supposed to be parota (veneer) and I asked for a walnut stain. I wanted a dark color but to still see some of the grain that makes parota so beautiful. They are very flat in most areas with random spots that look like they don’t have enough stain. Also some areas that look like uneven brush strokes, not grain, and a few drips.
I don’t know enough about parota or staining to know if this is acceptable or if it’s a hack job. Help

]]> By: deb https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20428 Sun, 08 Oct 2023 12:19:22 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20428 In reply to Cathy Behrens.

you could try oxalic acid which restores the original natural colour of wood and takes out water staining.
a mild amount of Oxalic acid is in barkeepers friend, which i’ve used on small projects

]]> By: Cathy Behrens https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20360 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 12:05:46 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20360 HI Eric.

I used Citristrip on a pine wood closet doors so that I could re-stain the a different color. However, after scrapping the stripper with a meal scrapper the pine turned black. Can the original color be restored? I’m afraid I will make it worse with sanding or bleaching.

]]> By: Eric https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20227 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 12:38:54 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20227 In reply to Michael Hall.

See the tips in this article: https://www.wood-database.com/finishing-exotic-tropical-hardwoods/

]]> By: Michael Hall https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20224 Sun, 20 Aug 2023 18:53:12 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20224 Hi Eric

I have an old G Plan dining table. In teak I think?! I have sanded down a few times now as it was very dark initially. Last year when sanding and then applying a varnish it dried tacky. I have finally gotten back round to sanding down again. What should I apply to the top as I’m guessing I need something on there? Thanks in advance for any advice!

]]> By: Eric https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20208 Thu, 17 Aug 2023 10:21:23 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20208 In reply to Katherine.

I’d guessing the table is either birch or maple, and the color difference is due to the patina that developed on the rest of the table as it was continually exposed to light, while the leaves were protected and didn’t develop a patina.

Depending on if the wood is solid or veneer, you might be able to get things to match. Only if it is solid wood, you could try sanding through the top layer of patina (or see how long it might take to do so) until you get to fresh wood.

]]> By: Katherine https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20206 Wed, 16 Aug 2023 21:08:33 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20206 Hi Eric,
I have an antique table that I am refinishing. The table was heavily used, but the two leaves were not. I stripped the wood, then I did my initial sanding, but the leaves look like a very different color. If I sand with a finer grit, then condition before staining, will it look more uniform? I’m afraid to do all that work and have it still look so different. I am considering painting it instead. What do you think?

]]> By: Eric https://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/four-common-finishing-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/comment-page-3/#comment-20195 Mon, 14 Aug 2023 02:58:11 +0000 http://www.wood-database.com/?page_id=16897#comment-20195 In reply to Cheryl.

Looks like walnut burl, and yes, that looks like checking to me, possibly caused if the wood has been exposed to extremely hot/dry conditions. A lot is a matter of preference, but for most woodworkers, burl figure in particular is more prone to checking and so there’s a lot more leeway given in what is considered acceptable. Personally, I don’t see any problem with this wood. You could just fill the voids with a pore filler and refinish it as usual.

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