Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Staining door

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Expert: - 11/20/2008


Question
I bought a solid exterior door slab and before we have it hung my wife wants me to stain it instead of painting. I have never done any staining in my life. Could you please tell me whats involved and what I need to buy.

Answer
Hi David, if you're just wanting to stain, for an exterior door, you'll need an exterior stain product like what's used on decks, outdoor furniture, etc. I would look at Cabot, Flood, or similar, and make sure to pay special attention to the end grain on the top and bottom of the door. You'll likely want a clear or slightly colored product, ....I like the Flood products like the CWF-UV, but most of them are not recommended for new wood, probably for the fact that many new wood surfaces have a factory applied sealer on them that needs to wear off or be removed before applying any of these products. Read more about that on their sites. Follow all directions on the can and you should be fine. Use a good quality brush to apply it, it really does make a difference, and some of these products are "Hybrid", state of the art finishes that are penetrating oil but soap and water clean up. Most of the Flood products are not recommended for interior surfaces, (not sure why), so the other choice would be an oil stain with a few coats of a typical topcoat like a Spar Urethane,or other exterior clear coat. Cabot's site also has a "learn the basics of staining"  supplement, for detailed instruction. Hope that helps- post back if need be- Greg
http://www.cabotstain.com/colors-and-finishes/families/Semi-Transparent-Colors.h...
http://www.flood.com/flood/DIY/

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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