Expert: Eileen Cronk - 10/18/2007

Question
I am refinishing a  Globe Wernicke bookcase.  It had been previously refinished a dark stain and a nasty topcoat.  The grade no. is 299, QUARTER SAWED OAK.  What would be the best method of finishing the piece?  Should I use oil or something more period?  I used a lot of stripper to remove the stain; does it need to be rejuvenated before finishing.  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hi Steve
Nice to hear from you.
You do not need to do anything before staining.
And never sand.
You ask the best method for finishing the piece.
So if you need ask, I assume you are an amatuer at this type of thing like most folks.
And you have already removed the "period dark stain and nasty finish" so you will not want to put that back on.
So my choice would be a tung oil finish.
It is the finish of choice for us do it yourselfers and most refinishers. Its a lovely finish, and something that we cannot screw up LOL.
If you stain prior to oiling, you will not harm an already stripped piece.
Steve, quarter sawn oak of any kind is lovely. It takes a stain beautifully and an oil finish beautifully too.
Its just great wood to work with.
Just be careful of the stain color you choose.
I see a lot of people use "golden oak or a pine stain on old oak and its not nice as it tends to look orange.
Personally I always mix 3 parts Minwax Golden oak with one part Minwax Special walnut or something close to that formula but I always do a test in a hidden area before I decide the exact mix. The walnut just seems to prevent this orange tone from happening.
And remember, you can add a darker stain over a lighter one, but you cannot add a lighter stain over dark. So test.
And really it comes down to what you personally like yourself. We each see things differently.
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen