Jesse Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 What would you guys say are the quickest and easiest finishing options? I've been pretty happy with mineral oil, but I'm becoming more interested in stains as well, say, to make poplar, maple or birch look like dark mahogany or walnut? What are the laziest most efficient methods you know of? More to the point, I would like to stain these cabinets tomorrow and be done with them: Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konkers Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I just had a very good first experience spraying General Finishes PolyAcrylic with the Earlex HVLP. I was able to get 4 coats of finish done in an afternoon/evening. I have no experience staining so I can't comment there other than make sure you do a test board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmac Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 What would you guys say are the quickest and easiest finishing options? Probably latex wall paint applied with a disposable roller. You can make your poplar as dark as you want that way. Seriously, I've slowly (very slowly) come to accept the idea that finishing isn't something you should rush through or dismiss as a nuisance to be dealt with after the project is "done". Like everything else, it takes practice to learn how to do it, and time to do it well. And like it or not, an awful lot of what other people think of a project will depend on the finish. I can't add to Konkers's advice on staining. Just get a can of something, read the instructions on the can, and practice on scraps until you get what you want and develop some confidence in your technique. As for a topcoat, Marc's wipe-on polyurethane recipe is hard to beat for durable and foolproof. It's not quick, though; I think it involves five or six coats with a bit of sanding after each one is (fully) dry. Not something you can do "tomorrow". Lecture mode off. -- Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoboMonk Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Dyes and shellac - but only for those who are, or wish be, true artisans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimV Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Those look like nice cabinets. I'd hate to ruin them by rushing through a finish. A bad finish is the first thing a person will see and the last thing they will remember about the piece. But if you want something simple, grab a can of Minwax (*gasp*) from one of the big box stores. Those are stain and polyureathane in one. There are lots of color choices and you can just wipe it on as many times to get the color depth you want and it will be "good enough". Oh yeah, do a test peice first to be sure its what you want.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick LoDico Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Making cheap wood look like expensive wood is a trick I've never learned. But a quick and easy finish is Waterlox. Just put on a few coats without sanding in between and you're good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted August 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I've used Zar Ultra oil-based poly in the past with nice, and have been going back and forth over whether to use it here. Any thoughts on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcustoms Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I am not a expert nor is this the quickest method but a few coats of a wax free shellac, gel stain, topped with a gel poly or any other type of poly. That should make that poplar look like what ever you want it to. Good luck with the finish, hope you find what works best for you. The cabinets look great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texfire Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Here was a project I did in poplar and stained. Used a 1lb cut of dewaxed shellac to try and cut down on blotching. In retrospect, probably should have done two coats. Then I used a General Finishes Antique Cherry water based stain, I think it was 3 coats of the stain. I think it was about six hours between coats with a light sanding at 220 between coats. Before: http://www.flickr.co.../in/photostream After: http://www.flickr.co...in/photostream/ The glue smears showed up more than I thought they would, lesson learned there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted August 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Thanks for all the suggestions! Thanks also for the compliments on the cabinet. I'd love to have a dedicated spray station, but that one will have to wait for my next big break, I suppose. I went with Zar ultra oil base poly afterall, in a fruitwood tinted satin sheen. Just finished the first coat. Here be pics: I'll post again after the second and third coats are on. And I'll probably post again with pics of it installed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Posted August 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Wow, I just looked at those pictures and it looks really bad on camera! Half the stain is wet and the other half dry, so it catches the light kinda funny. It looks good in real life, I swear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bois Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 I can't believe nobody has mentioned oil and wax yet. Doesn't get much easier, and one of my favorites (what's that broken record sound I'm hearing) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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