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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: I have American cherry stair treads and my flooring is Brazilian teak which does have some reddish and some brownish pieces in it. I am going to be ordering the balusters and newels and handrails soon. I can choose between Brazilian cherry handrail and newels or maple which I will have to stain. What do you recommend to coordinate with the teak flooring?
A: If you are asking my opinion, I’d go with Brazilian cherry. I think it goes rather well with Brazilian teak and creates a subtle, Gucci-like contrast. Why not get a sample piece in and look at it in conjunction with your floor to see whether it appeals to you? |  | |
| Q: Is maple hard to stain?
A: No, though it does have two characteristics that you should know about. First, it is rather dense, so it does not absorb stain as aggressively as some other woods, meaning the stain color will come out weaker. Second, maple often grows with twisted grain, and that means the presence of end grain in random patterns in the wood. These will often absorb more stain, creating darker sections. Some find this attractive; others find it unpleasant. You can limit the variance by using a coordinated wood conditioner along with your stain, but that will further contribute to making the stain weaker in color. | | |
| Q: I built a small cascara wood box for jewelry or keepsakes and used SealCoat for the finish. Am I going to have any problem with Cascara chemicals? I peeled a lot of Cascara bark when I was a kid and no one wanted the tree.
A: Cascara contains a compound that is a powerful laxative, so I certainly would not use it either for food contact or frequent skin contact, but once it is sealed, I see no problem with it, and SealCoat is certainly an appropriate sealer for the wood. | | |
| Q: I am currently building a baby crib out of some beautifully figured Goncalo Alves and I was wondering what would be the best finish for the crib so that it will be safe and beautiful at the same time.
A: Any film forming finish is safe once it cures, but I have to admit my first choice would probably be shellac in the form of Zinsser SealCoat. It will bring out the beauty of the wood without substantially changing its color, and because it is shellac based, is perfectly safe, even if eaten. |
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