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27th August 2009, 10:42 PM #1
less trimmed thumbs, more knocked knuckles
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To stain or not to stain ... that is the question
I've almost completed a simple rocking horse (see photo below) for my one year old daughter, made out of plywood and pine ... yes pine ... although I'm not entirely sure what type(s). All-in-all the pine made the head easy to carve.
I'm now at a stage of indecision. I'd originally planned to stain the horse ... but what colour?
... now I'm not sure whether I want to stain it at all.
Maybe I use the tub of shellac that I've had in the garage for a couple of months now ...?
Painting is NOT an option ... this is partly my thoughts ... but more strongly communicate by SWMBO.
Maybe I should just 'clear' coat it ...?
I'm really not sure ...
Any thoughts or ideas???
I guess I also consider that the timber needs to be 'semi' protected so that any spills can be easily cleaned.
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28th August 2009, 03:40 PM #2
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You may have blotchy problems with staining the head, so I'd go for shellac. Safe for the kids too.
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28th August 2009, 05:05 PM #3
Dances with splinters
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Painting can look damned good; if you've an artistic bent in the first place. But I can certainly understand your SWMBO saying no. It goes against the grain with me, too. (No pun intended.
)
Clear-coating with a PolyU would be durable at the start, but a right mongrel to touch up further down the line once the kids have loved it to death.
- Andy Mc
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28th August 2009, 06:17 PM #4
Master of the obvious
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Perhaps an oil finish instead?
Linseed or hard burnishing oil will darken and appear to age the timber slightly, can be waxed over for spill protection and are extremely easy to maintain."Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
- Douglas Adams
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28th August 2009, 10:14 PM #5
less trimmed thumbs, more knocked knuckles
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Oil's ain't Oil's, and ...
Linseed or hard burnishing oil ...
never having used either...
Are these applied with a rag?
Will it 'blotch'?
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29th August 2009, 10:44 AM #6
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One way I apply oil finishes is with a brush (brush on a lot) let the wood soak it up for a 5 mins and then wipe off all the excess. Thats for the first coat and second/third coat just wipe it on with a rag and and then buff off with a dry rag.
Come to think of it thats how i used to apply a poly/oil/turps mix finish.
And it wont 'blotch'
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29th August 2009, 10:48 AM #7
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Nice looking horse tt. Good work
Post a pic when you have applied the finish.
Reality is no background music.
Cheers John
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29th August 2009, 10:51 AM #8
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I would seal it first and apply 3-4 coats of wipe-on poly. Staining makes a piece of furniture look cheap.
Visit my website at www.myFineWoodWork.com
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30th August 2009, 12:03 PM #9
Master of the obvious
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What KorDes said.
Originally Posted by thumb trimmer
Most oil finishes don't have any real colour at all, though you can add stain to then with good results. Depending on the finish I'm after I either flood or wipe.
Flooding results in better penetration and a harder wearing surface with better resistance to spills and stuff. The trade-off is it can take a long time to go off... say a month. Wipe-on in multiple coats and each coat will only take a couple of days to go off.
Linseed doesn't penetrate as well and takes longer to go off in my experience, but it's cheaper and you will use less of it. Hard burnishing oil contains Tung oil and solvent thinners which helps make it a better finish in my opinion, but it's expensive by comparison.
Dave."Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
- Douglas Adams
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30th August 2009, 09:01 PM #10
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