norride9

I am completely new to this type of work and am trying not to make any mistakes.
I am making a dining room table. I am going for a look that is rustic, but not picnic table rustic. I want a nice dark, antique worn looking finish. I want to keep the skin on the wood for a lot of texture and feel.
I have been experimenting on a scrap piece and so far I am planning on sanding it down so some areas are smooth and others rough - some show saw marks, some don't etc.
Then I will stain with minwax red mahogany or red oak - not sure just yet. I notice that some area of the wood are much more porous than others and quickly turn very dark. ( should i adjust for this with sanding those areas smoother or using less stain or both.)
I will finish with waterlox original.
Thats it.
Does anyone have any other suggestions tips etc.
Thanks

Daren

This will probably be no help at all...but here goes (and welcome to the forum BTW) I reckon if you are planing/sanding all the "patina" off the wood you have nothing different than "new" wood. I can't help you much with stains, personally I would leave it natural and clear coat it.

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http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/ ...Urban logging/tool sharpening

norride9

I will not be planing but I think it is going to be a must to sand to some degree. The boards are very rough from years of being out in the weather.

Tony B

I too am a "no-stainer".
Red oak is a oretty wood in my opinion. If you leave natural, you wont have any stain problems.

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Tony B

http://www.thetexaswoodworks.com

Gerry KIERNAN

I would tend to agree with Tony and Daren, unless you want the wood to be very dark. Try a piece just with clear finish to see what you get.

Welcome to the forum.

Gerry

red

I’m just taking a guess here from your description, it sounds like the darker areas are where the lumber is not smooth. I would plane the lumber just enough to get the roughness out of the wood while trying to leave as much of the old wood look (patina) as possible. There is a balance you need to make here.

As far as staining, I would NOT do it. Several coats of a clear coat and your table will look beautiful. I have used waterlox years ago and the results were pretty good if I remember correctly. Post some pics when you get the table done. Red

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whirichardson

H.H. Damato as paraphased from How to Collect, Refinish and Restore Antique and Country Furniture

"Using Red Mahogany stain on any furniture is about as appropriate as holding a cocktail party in a nuclear reactor. "