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| Leave it to the pro. Michael Dresdner, a nationally known wood finishing and woodworking expert, has answered hundreds of common wood finishing questions in Varathane’s Q&A library to help you successfully complete your project. Click on a link to the left for help and solid advice. |
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| Q: What single stain do you think will get me back to the original color of a mahogany Martin guitar?
A: Throughout most of their history, Martin used custom mixed stains with the proviso that companies selling their stains to Martin did not sell them elsewhere. In fact, my wife used to own a stain company that sold to Martin, and she made them custom stain colors that were not sold elsewhere. Thus, if I were setting out to mimic one of their finishes, I might indeed try some commercial stains to see if one matched, but I would be fully prepared to mix my own if I really wanted it exact. |  | |
| Q: What would you recommend for cleaning hardwood floors that have been treated with oil based Varathane? Other than cleaning, is there anything that needs to be done?
A: Mild soap and water is fine, as is pretty much any other common floor cleaner, provided it does not contain abrasives. And no, there is nothing you need do for it. It’s a very durable finish that needs no extra help and is impervious to most household chemicals. | | |
| Q: What do you recommend to fill the grain on a new red oak plywood desk top prior to topcoat?
A: The material specifically designed for filling the pores on open pore woods is paste wood pore filler, and that is what you should use if you want to fill the grain. However, I should point out that filling the grain is a strictly optional process. Because the grain is so pronounced on red oak, it is traditionally done in an open pore finish. The problem is that the grain is so large on red oak that it is difficult to completely fill it, and it looks better open than partially filled. | | |
| Q: Can spar urethane be applied with a sprayer?
A: Yes, but it is a bit of a challenge. You will want to thin it considerably, preferably with a fast drying solvent such as naphtha or acetone, and spray very light, sparse coats or you are likely to get sags and runs. Practice on scrap first to learn the ropes and you will do fine. |
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