Recent content by gavin e

Inventor It's not really possible for me to tell you which finishing product to use since you need to make sure that you apply one that is going to be compatible with the stain you are using. If you don't, you may find that the lacquer rejects, goes like crazy paving, or turns into a load of...

To get the best finish I'm afraid that yes, you do need to re-sand the floor. If you want to darken the floor again I'd suggest staining the floor seperately rather than using a stained varnish, and please don't use varnish on the floor again if you want something that will last a bit longer...

Wow, what a great link that site is! I've been polishing for a few years now and it's always interesting to see what others have to say about it. That's definetly the best I've seen so far. With regards to the oil, a lot of people don't use any because they find they get on better without it...

The thing to remember when staining is that the natural colour of the wood will alter the colour of the stain, so there is no way of telling the final colour you will achieve. The same stain on two different pieces of mahogany or oak will probably give two stightly different colours...

I'd agree that a water based floor lacquer is a good way to go to avoid a great colour change. I'd also find out where your local woodfinishing retailer is (not a B & Q type place but the specialist supplier used by local spraying or floor finishing firms.) Give them a ring and ask which...

In theory I'm a french polisher, but to be honest there isn't much that i work on these days that actually needs french polish. Most of my work now comes from insurance claims where people spill things on aunties old table, or from removals companies who smash aunties old table and need it put...

Hmmm. trying to talk about a colour match without having the piece to hold. Tricky. The chances are that the doors you bought have been spray finished in a factory, so they can use various tricks to get an even colour across each piece. You, however, are always going to have the problem of...

re caustic soda. Don't put it on oak before testing!!!! The chances are it'll make it go as black as your average mineshaft.

Once your stain is dry you should be ok. The only reason i can think of that you may find the stain bleeding through is if you don't apply enough coats of finish to really seal it in. I'm assuming that the rustins stain you have got is either water or spirit based. Don't forget that the...

If you want to bleach oak then you should use a two part wood bleach. This is available in most hardware shops. Rustins works well. To use, you first apply the 'a' bleach, then the 'b' bleach about twenty minutes later. Don't panic when the wood goes darker first! Really really wear...

I've had success with this technique too. Another thing that can work is to use a hair dryer or heat gun (gently!) to warm the area and then rub it hard with a soft cloth. i also have used both T-cut or brasso on white rings in the past too, again rubbing hard with the grain. Watch out if you...

Hi I can't actually answer your question but know a man that might! Without knowing what you have or haven't stained the pieces with, and a few other details it's hard to suggest anything without you running the risk of a bad reaction somewhere along the line. Try Morrells woodfinishes. (No...

Hi everyone I'm very new to woodturning so please bear in mind that i know next to nothing - if i ask a stupid question please feel free to point out why! I've been given five 5ft x 10inch logs of holly, brought down by the recent high winds, and want to know what i should do with them to get...