AboutEileen Cronk Expertise Hi..I can answer most questions about the repairing,stripping and refinishing of all your old furniture and wood items(the things we call antiques)I can give advice about what to buy/avoid at auctions/flea markets. I do not give appraisals on antiques.
Experience I have been refinishing antiques for the past 30yrs. While I have taken several courses over the years,I have found that "hands on" learning is the best teacher. Perhaps I can help you avoid some of the mistakes I made while learning.
Question QUESTION: Hi, thanks for your time. I had three questions.
First, I just stained (Minwax oil-based) some eating trays and finished it with a polycrylic finish. Is this the safest route for an eating surface?
Second, what's the best way to protect, via stain or finish or both, a pine picnic table? It will be outdoors and I've noticed that most of them take a beating, but I want to consider the fact that people (mainly kids) will be playing and eating on it.
Finally, is there a good alternative for an all natural stain as well as finish? I like the idea of it, but it seems to be less practical.
Thanks for any information you can provide, and have a nice day.
Fred
ANSWER: Hi Fred
Nice to hear from you.
All of the answers I give you are my personal opinion.
1..The water based polycrylic finish you applied to the trays is fine.
The Minwax oil based stain is completely covered.
Having said that, would I use these products on something I was actually going to have food sit directly on? The answer is no.
I would use an oil.
Personally I like walnut oil on my trays but there again it could pose an allergy problem in some families (not mine though).
There are other edible oils you could look into.
2..The picnic table finish. This is a different situation than eating trays. And as you say they take a beating. They really need a good protective coat to stand up to the outdoors.
I always apply an oil based opaque stain every few years to my picnic tables.
This eliminates the scraping and sanding you would have to do with paint or a poly product..even spar varnish peels.
The stain just fades away and no surface prep is necessary to recoat (at least I give no surface prep LOL).
I understand your concern about children. I feel that once the stain smell has gone the tables pose no problem for kids.
If we do the staining first thing in the spring before schools out and before the kids are using the tables, the smell is long gone.
I would not even consider another type of finish on my picnic tables as I don't like working when everyone else is having fun in the summer.
3..Fred I know of no alternative for a natural stain other than to use your top coat thinned maybe 3 to 1 with paint thinner.
Thats 3 parts thinner to one part finish.
I believe the thinking is it will penetrate into the wood better than just a top coat and I believe this to be true.
But I don't think thats exactly the answer you are looking for and I'm going in the wrong direction with this last question.
So I'm hoping you will post me back on this but I'm thinking you are referring to more environmentally friendly finishes.
Regards
Eileen
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QUESTION: Hi Eileen,
Thanks so much for your timely and helpful response. I will look into your suggestions. I am completely new at this and am learning things on the fly.
1. I actually didn't realize that there were edible oils that you could stain with and that sounds like a great alternative. I made a mistake and wanted to clarify that food will NOT be directly on the surface, it will be like a table top, but a safe, non-toxic surface is still desirable. I think the Minwax is acceptable (not necessarily optimal) for this, but you may have more thoughts.
2. We just got a picnic table (sorry, it's spruce, not pine) and I was about to assemble it when I realized they recommended treating the pieces of wood before putting it together. BTW, do you have any thoughts on staining before or after assembly?
I was going to use an exterior stain since that's what I'm going to use on our clapboards, but then thought that it might expose the kids to some undesirable things. I will look into the oil-based opaque stain. I don't mind working while everyone else is playing since that's what I do on a daily basis as a dad.
3. I wanted to clarify that I once again made a mistake and did not mean an alternative to a natural stain. You actually answered this question in part 1 by mentioning edible oils, an idea which I love. What I meant was were there natural alternatives to what's out there, i.e., edible oils. I know people use things like linseed oil or tung oil (I love that name), none of which I have any experience with.
Basically, I'm making a go of learning home improvement and woodworking and would like to use the safest and least toxic materials while keeping practical matters in mind. We live in Vermont so being ecologically conscious while training to be a real man is completely acceptable since it's standard M.O. for most guys up here.
Either way, I'll do a little more research and let you know what I come up with. Are edible oils easy to find, and do they come in different colors? I know, I'm pushing my luck, but it can't hurt to ask.
Thanks again for your help, Eileen, and I have a nice day.
Fred
Answer Hi again Fred
Hope you don't mind me answering this way but I don't want to miss any of your points so I'll go in the order you asked the questions
1. I actually didn't realize that there were edible oils that you could stain with and that sounds like a great alternative. I made a mistake and wanted to clarify that food will NOT be directly on the surface, it will be like a table top, but a safe, non-toxic surface is still desirable. I think the Minwax is acceptable (not necessarily optimal) for this, but you may have more thoughts.
Answer. The walnut oil I mentioned is not a stain but a finish.
Sorry if you misunderstood.
It actually dries up like a tung oil finish and is great like I say on things that will have food directly on them..like wooden bowls or wooden platters.
And yes the Minwax stain you used under the water based poly is fine.
2. We just got a picnic table (sorry, it's spruce, not pine) and I was about to assemble it when I realized they recommended treating the pieces of wood before putting it together. BTW, do you have any thoughts on staining before or after assembly?
Answer..If you can stain before assembly its much preferred.
Fred I have made a heap of picnic tables in my day..the last picnic table session I had was making 12 for my sons outdoor wedding five years ago. They are still in perfect condition except where the wood touches..its actually rotting there.
If only I had finished the wood first this would not be happening.
I was going to use an exterior stain since that's what I'm going to use on our clapboards, but then thought that it might expose the kids to some undesirable things. I will look into the oil-based opaque stain. I don't mind working while everyone else is playing since that's what I do on a daily basis as a dad.
Answer..You will really like this product Fred. Just two light coats is all thats needed. If you can get Olympic Brand there thats the one to get although other companies make it.
3. I wanted to clarify that I once again made a mistake and did not mean an alternative to a natural stain. You actually answered this question in part 1 by mentioning edible oils, an idea which I love. What I meant was were there natural alternatives to what's out there, i.e., edible oils. I know people use things like linseed oil or tung oil (I love that name), none of which I have any experience with.
Answer..actually my finish of choice in the home is tung oil.
I was also pleased to find its very safe to use. It comes from the tung tree apparently.
Fred I want you to read this entire article on tung oil and then you will feel confident using it. http://refinishfurniture.com/tung_oil_finish.htm
Basically, I'm making a go of learning home improvement and woodworking and would like to use the safest and least toxic materials while keeping practical matters in mind. We live in Vermont so being ecologically conscious while training to be a real man is completely acceptable since it's standard M.O. for most guys up here.
Answer.. Fred its long over due that we all think this way..lets have a safe home for our kids.
Either way, I'll do a little more research and let you know what I come up with. Are edible oils easy to find, and do they come in different colors? I know, I'm pushing my luck, but it can't hurt to ask.
Answer ..Actually the walnut oil could be tricky to find and you may need to go through a mail supplier.
I am fortunate I have a friend who supplies it when needed. Its not something I use a lot of but the tung oil is and its readily available at all hardware stores.
Its been a pleasure helping you Fred and please write me any time.
Regards
Eileen
