Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/5/2009

Question
Hi Eileen!
Thanks for the fantastically quick response!  Well impressed!
The sideboard was second hand but probably not that old - maybe 10 years old?
Yes it's the colour and glossy finish that I want to change.  
I will strip it today and then await your answer re stain.  I want to avoid the orange look - the cabinet that I want it to match has a kind of dirty pine look, with a unfinished look - not a hint of varnish or even the slightest sheen.  
And I can't wait to set about it with chains and hammers - superb!
Thanks for now!
Jac

Answer
Hi Again Jac
Glad to hear this is not a really new piece.
Not sure if I mentioned I would recommend stripping the surface with am MC stripper instead of sanding.
This ten year old pine will have darkened and aged to a fair degree and sanding will remove this.
Also a proper stain job is hard to achieve if you sand a finish off instead of stripping it off.
I have been thinking about this unfinished look you want and perhaps its as simple as applying only the stain.
Minwax clearly states on the can "stains penetrates and seals" and it does that to a degree but left with no top coat it will water mark for sure so that should be considered.
I'm thinking a coat of some type of clear matte finish but not sure exactly what.
Years ago I dabbled a bit in folk art painting on pine and we had what was called "a clear matte sealer". You could not detect that a finish was applied and it protected the wood. Something to think about.
Living in a small rural area I don't have access to a lot of the wonderful finishing products available and perhaps there is such a finish available. I am going to look online.
Is there any way you could get me a picture of your other cabinet?
The site allows you to post a picture and if I could actually see the color you want to achieve it would be easier to talk stain.
Keep me posted.
Regards
Eileen