Any woodworkers?

Top piece looks more solid, bottom is splotchy. Ive had mixed results with wood conditioner. I really dont like it on stuff ive used. But thats my preference.

 

I went over the top piece twice, so that may be the difference. Not sure. I can go over the bottom piece again today, but I was thinking they both look a little splotchy. So I'm wondering if it would be a better idea to match my shelves exactly with the finish and save the stain for different pieces.

 

Agreed; I've only ever noticed a difference using pine. And while it looked no different on a small scrap test pieces at times, those big chunks of wood with sometimes bothersome spots have benefited from condition in the past for me. With enough love, the project will turn out great with or without it though; I wouldn't stress over it.

Edit: I haven't used very many other types of wood, so my experience is limited. I'm sure the conditioner is valuable on many more surfaces.

 

Popular has some softer and harder grain sections/rings, seems like the conditioner sticks/absorbs to softer stuff. Kinda what makes the stain soak in more on the soft stuff and not so much on the harder stuff

 

I gave it about 30 minutes. Cause it was getting dark.

I'm thinking just a clear coat for this piece. I'll try the conditioner again on the next one.

 

Are you having a stroke?

 

I have an extremely bad habit of rushing multiple coats or dry times on my projects. Its honestly NEVER paid off for me, because I end up ruining something completely or making irreversible spots (even if they're in mostly hidden spaces of the project). If I could change one thing about my process for every project, it'd be give myself realistic expectations of length of time the project will take, and not try to do things (even if they're simple) in 1-2 days, knowing that the stain/clear coat will take up 2 of those days (of my 1 day project)..

 

This is pretty typical of Poplar. It really is a paint grade wood. But here is an article that may help. https://woodworkly.com/does-poplar-stain-well/

 

Starting a walnut epoxy cutting board, i need to get some white tint. Got an idea yesterday, see if it works or not

 

Kinda, reading on it, the epoxy should hold better than the breaking force of the wood. Im going to put white down then use some smoker pellets, then clear on top

 

Yeah i dunno on that either...see a bunch online people use themnew territory for me also

 

Started work on a project today that I think I can finally feel good about posting in here.



This was a child's desk, probably built in the early part of the 1900's.



I don't know how I'm going to fix this...



Many decades of this being used as an end table have left their mark.



I sanded with 80, 120, 220, 320 and then put water on it to see if the rings were gone. It's a beautiful bunch of American Walnut. After it dried, I noticed that it felt rough, so I went over it again with the 320.

I don't know how I'll finish it yet. Might do a satin poly or Tung Oil. What do y'all think I should finish it with?

 

Gotta love Walnut!
I’d do satin poly. Tung is such a pain.

 

Why is Tung a pain?