Finishing advice needed for dispaly cabinet

[David Tiffin]

Hi All,
I've been working on my display cabinet since August or so and have reached a point where I need to stain some edges in case there is any movement in the wood. I was thinking of maybe trying this product from Lee Valley. It's a water base stain. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...currency=2&SID= I'll use the cherry color and it would go over cherry wood. The finish/sealer I want to use is from Deft and comes highly recommended. (http://www.deftfinishes.com/wood/clear.htm )
>>Any opinions or recommendations?
Thanks

[voodoo]

David


I've heard a lot of good things about water based stains. Easy to apply, clean up, and EV friendly. But I must admit, I've never tried it. I've used oil based and gels in the past and have good luck with both of these. Gel is a little more difficult to apply, especially if you have a lot of angles, but the finished quality is excellent.

Why are you choosing a water based? I assume you wish to avoid the harmful oders? One question I have, does the water based stain raise the grains in the wood. The results would be like taking a wet cloth across an unfinished piece. After the water has been wiped off or died you get a rough/course feeling to the wood.

Jefff

[David Tiffin]

Hi Jeff,
You're correct with trying to avoid oders or harmful fumes. As for raising the grain? I don't know. I guess I could always try it on a sample first to see what happens. Have you used the gel on anything to do with your collection? Any problems with the metal turning?
Thanks

[voodoo]

David


I made a small case to hold a luft dagger in on the wall out of cherry, and then stained it with a cherry colored gel. I haven't seen any reaction with the metal during its two year entombment(yet). When I stained it two years ago, I really didn't know much about water based stains and they were fairly new in the market where I live. If you can get satisfactory results from water based stains, I would use them. Sounds like you are less apt to get any type of "reaction" to metal, leather, and cloth.
I had a book around here somewhere comparing the different types of stains. I'll do some diggin' and see what I can come up with.

Jeff

[David Tiffin]

I went back and checked the instructions and it mentions the grain rising. It tells how to sand it out before hand. The reason I asked about the gel is I also made a small display case for a dagger. This was before I knew anything about the wood or finishes. I used oak and polyurethan (spelling) and the dagger is now as black as can be.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Originally Posted by David Tiffin

I went back and checked the instructions and it mentions the grain rising. It tells how to sand it out before hand. The reason I asked about the gel is I also made a small display case for a dagger. This was before I knew anything about the wood or finishes. I used oak and polyurethan (spelling) and the dagger is now as black as can be.

I used that finish and I was very happy with it. Underneath it I used an oak stain by... I forget now, but it's the yellow cans... popular stain company.

[jeremiahcable]

Minwax?

Originally Posted by Sebastian Bianchi

I used that finish and I was very happy with it. Underneath it I used an oak stain by... I forget now, but it's the yellow cans... popular stain company.