how do you finish red oak plywood

How do you finish red oak plywood?

• Sand the plywood down with 60-grit sandpaper until it is smooth.
• Wipe all the dust off the surface of the oak plywood.
• Fill a basin with water, and dip a rag or cloth into it until it is soaked.
• Wring the cloth out, and begin to pass it over the surface of the plywood until the entire surface looks damp but not wet.

Full Answer

How do you finish a red oak table top?

This finish looks best on red oak. 1. Trans Tint honey amber dye to the bare wood and let it dry. 2. Seal with shellac and scuff-sand when dry. 3. Glaze with Varathane dark walnut gel stain. 4. Seal with shellac and scuff-sand when dry. 5. Apply a topcoat of your choice.

What is the best way to stain red oak?

Red oak is made up of tubes which will hold stain for some time. It is interesting blowing air on one end of a board and watching stain bubble out of the other. I like a high solids lacquer for red oak because it smoothes out the grain and gives a nice feel. I also like the decorative grain-fill techniques that can be done.

What is the best finish for red oak?

This finish looks best on red oak. 1. Trans Tint honey amber dye to the bare wood and let it dry. 2. Seal with shellac and scuff-sand when dry.

How do you glaze over oak stain?

A glaze layer is the secret ingredient to a great oak finish. A dark glaze emphasizes oak’s beautiful strong grain. Glaze is nothing more than a thick stain applied over a sealed surface. Apply the glaze with a stiff brush across the grain.

Can you finish oak plywood?

Oak plywood will hold a stain beautifully. Staining oak plywood is a bit different from staining other kinds of wood, and very often people find that they have difficulties getting the stain completely even. This is mainly due to the quality of grain in plywood, which is different from that of solid wood.

What type of finish is best for red oak?

You can use a water-based or oil-based varnish or lacquer. 1. Apply dye or stain to the bare wood and let dry.

How do you finish red oak?

This finish looks best on red oak.Trans Tint honey amber dye to the bare wood and. let it dry.Seal with shellac and scuff-sand when dry.Glaze with Varathane dark walnut gel stain.Seal with shellac and scuff-sand when dry.Apply a topcoat of your choice.

Does Red Oak need to be sealed?

Red oak is popular with woodworkers because of its natural appearance. Fortunately, it is also easy to stain. Layering dye, gel stain, and a topcoat is a way to turn red oak a consistent color with a beautiful finish. Each layer should be sealed with shellac and sanded to improve the stain.

How do you get a smooth finish on oak?

1:183:47Creating a Smooth Wood Finish with Grain Filler | Rockler Skill BuildersYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo much easier applying pore filler pore filler does exactly what its name implies it fills up theMoreSo much easier applying pore filler pore filler does exactly what its name implies it fills up the little pores in the wood. So that they're even to the wood fibers.

What is the fine for sanding red oak?

Soft woods such as pine and alder: start with #120 and finish with no finer than #220 (for water base stains) and 180 grit for oil base stains. Hardwoods such as maple and oak: start with #120 and finish-sand no finer than #180 (for water base stains) and #150 grit for oil base stains.

Do you need to condition red oak before staining?

Pre-stain conditioning will even out the color tone across the piece, and this may or may not be desirable, i.e. for a more rustic look don't condition. End grain, especially for red oak, will absorb much more stain. It can be conditioned by itself, but that can be difficult.

How do you give oak a natural finish?

If the requirement is to protect the oak whilst keeping the silvery appearance then the following is the best:1 coat of clear wood preservative.Followed by 3-5 coats of high quality Tung Oil such as Morrells Tung Oil.

How do you finish new oak?

0:456:14How to Finish Quarter Sawn White Oak and Pop The Figure - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe wood dust soaks up the oil and then fills in the open force. Giving you an extra beautifulMoreThe wood dust soaks up the oil and then fills in the open force. Giving you an extra beautiful finish. You wait 30 minutes and then lightly wipe off any excess wet.

What stains go well with red oak?

The best stain colors for oakEarly American by Varathane.Dark Walnut by Minwax.Briarsmoke by Varathane.Puritan Pine by Minwax.Classic Gray by Minwax.White Wash by Varathane.Walrus Oil cutting board oil.Weathered Oak by Minwax.More items...•

Is Danish oil good for red oak?

This "bleedback" occurs particularly in open-grained woods, such as red oak. Danish oil goes on easily. Flood thesurface with finish, let it soak inthoroughly, and then wipe off theexcess.

What does red oak stain look like?

3:034:30Testing stains on Red Oak wood - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd it's kind of got like a lottery tint to it is the here's red mahogany a red tint to it it'sMoreAnd it's kind of got like a lottery tint to it is the here's red mahogany a red tint to it it's almost almost the same use the red oak. And this is the driftwood.

How much grit should I use to stain red oak?

For finishing sanding, depending on the color, 150 – 180 gri t is all you need. It stains well with wipe stain.

What color stain should I use for Mohawk?

2. Base color: I like to set a base or background color using a light dye. Mohawk ultra penetrating stain (actually an NGR dye) with a touch of retarder is a good choice. For your end result I would use a warm sienna or a thinned burnt umber; lighter if you want more open pore contrast, darker if you want less. This step is not essential but I think it results in a good consistent color in the late wood and adds a bit of interest to the end result.

How to get an open pored look?

If you want an open pored look, use a wiping stain to add more color. If you want a partially filled look (good for a kitchen) use a gel stain. If you want filled look, use a heavy body glaze or colored grain filler. If you want to de-emphasize the pores, stick with a color that is close to your background.

What color goes straight to the grain?

Dark colors go straight to the open grain. Be careful to let all the stain evaporate out of the grains before finishing to avoid bubbles. Red oak is made up of tubes which will hold stain for some time. It is interesting blowing air on one end of a board and watching stain bubble out of the other.

Do you need to apply heavy coats to open grain wood?

Here is something to think about – whenever you’re working with open grain woods, you need to be aware of "trapping solvent bubbles in your coatings." Don't apply heavy coats, (too many passes at one time) allow each full pass to first expel there tail end solvents before you make your next pass. Trapping solvents is a common problem with open grain woods.

Is it hard to finish red oak?

I read your comments on finishing red oak. It is one of the hardest to finish if you are doing it with natural color due to the tannins bleeding out of the wood. All the description says is to use a sanding sealer when finishing. That is not specific; the sanding sealer must be compatible with the finish.

How to thin spar varnish?

I thin spar varnish with turpentine in a 4:1 ratio of varnish to turpentine and add a few drops of Japan dryer. Using a brush, I put on 4-5 coats, one coat a day, gently sanding with 320 grit sandpaper between coats. I finish up by rubbing out the final coat with 4-f pumice stone. The finish is glass smooth and the pores fill with the varnish almost, but not all they way. You could get rid of all the pores with a filler before you start to varnish. It’s a bit fussy, but I’ve used the finish on kitchen tables and bathroom cabinets built out of red oak and red oak plywood, and they are relatively indestructible. You might need a few days between coats in cooler weather - depends on your shop. Dust is a bit of an issue, but I’ve not had major trouble with it. Just clean your shop the night before and let the dust settle.

Can you use raw plywood edge for finished look?

A raw plywood edge won't provide a very finished look. You might want to consider edging it with solid wood.

Can you sand varnish through the first coat?

As you’ve learned, there is a risk of sanding through the first coat into the varnish if you sand too much. There is certainly many ways to do this, but my smoothest results come from thin coats, with very light sanding between coats.

Can you sand varnish straight?

I use a cork block and just sand enough to knock off any of the rough spots. Don’t sand too much. I don’t aim for everything to be dull. You risk sanding too deeply. Diluting the varnish makes it flow into the pores more easily, and eliminates brush strokes, but you can apply the varnish straight. I’ve tried it both ways and I get the best results with a slight dilution.

How to get linseed oil out of wood?

First, flood the surface with generous amounts of boiled linseed oil. Reapply oil anywhere it’s absorbed by the wood, then wipe the surfaces dry. As oil dries, it may bleed from the wood pores and harden on the surface. Wipe away these deposits every hour until you no longer notice them.

What color stain is used to make ebony?

The secret? Start with an application of water-soluble ebony dye followed by a dark oil-based stain. Unlike black paint, this finish still reveals red oak’s grain lines as a matte color that contrasts against the smooth surrounding wood.

Do attractive finishes have to be difficult?

Attractive finishes don’t always have to be difficult. Sometimes, you can get the look you want in a couple of simple steps. To demonstrate these four easy finishes, we tried them on four small, red-oak tables. Except where noted, we followed these basic finishing rules:

Does ebony stain fill oak?

Ebony dye lays the groundwork for a dark finish, but it doesn’t fill o ak’s deep pores. For that, you need a stain with pigment particles. 4. A low-odor choice for indoor finishing. An indoor workshop gives you a welcome retreat from winter—that is until it’s time to apply a finish.

What happens when you put red oak on it?

Red Oak is a very opened grain wood, so if you put a color on it, the grain darkens while the "new wood" takes the intended color. It actually finishes pretty evenly and there really is no fear of color blotches.

Can you use polyurethane on scrap board?

You can (actually should) try it out on a scrap board or two. Click here for a post I made long ago on the process I've used. You will find everyone has a variation, stops at a different grit, etc. When it is well-cured, you can top with poly or whatever. Wait at least a week to be sure. Two is plenty.

Can you finish red oak?

Tom, I've never finished anything quite that large in red oak, but my favorite method of finishing that wood is by wetsanding in the finish. The slurry produced by sanding with the finishing product helps fill the pores and, if you're using a Danish oil as I did, reduces the bleeding problem. It leaves a really nice surface behind, smooth and natural without the prominent pores just slopping the stuff on does.

Can you stain red oak with Watco Danish oil?

I have used a ton of red oak over the years & my favourite stain is any of the Watco Danish Oils, from natural to Dark Walnut. They are really idiot proof & can be top coated with anything - I use a pre-catalyzed, high solids content lacquer with a low sheen (20 degree I think). Sand lightly after first coat, tack off & spray another coat. If everything has gone in my favour 2 coats is enough.

How to make oak wood a ground color?

The ground color establishes the finish’s predominate undertone. Apply the dye liberally to bare wood with a brush or spray bottle. Blot up any excess with a clean rag.

What is oak finish?

Finishing oak is like finishing two different woods at once. The large, visible pores in the earlywood soak up stain much more aggressively than the relatively smooth latewood does.

What is the second layer of shellac dye?

Next, a barrier coat of dewaxed shellac seals in the dye. Shellac dries fast, allowing you to move through the steps quickly. A second layer of color, called a glaze , is applied over the sealed dye.

What is the difference between glaze and oak?

Glaze deepens the grain contrast. A glaze layer is the secret ingredient to a great oak finish. A dark glaze emphasizes oak’s beautiful strong grain. Glaze is nothing more than a thick stain applied over a sealed surface. Apply the glaze with a stiff brush across the grain.

How to control color strength on latewood?

You can control the color strength on the latewood by either wiping the wood clean or leaving a little glaze behind. Use one rag to pick up the bulk of the stain. When it becomes saturated, it will leave a thin layer of color behind.

What is the best sealer for dyed oak?

Shellac sealer brings the dyed oak to life. At the same time, it creates a barrier that prevents dyes or stains from bleeding into the next layer of finish. The barrier coat also creates distinct, well-defined layers that really add depth and beauty.

How to get rays out of quartersawn oak?

Tip: Scuff-sand the dye coat on quartersawn oak to make the ray fleck really pop. Because the rays are so dense, the dye tends to sit on the surface where a light sanding can easily remove it. This makes the rays lighter than the surrounding wood.

Step 2: Steelwool & Vinegar

I mixed some White Vinegar and some pieces of Steelwool in a Jar, you will need to let it set in the Jar for at least a day or two. Then just brush it onto the wood.

Step 3: Natural Stain

This is what it looks like after drying a couple of days, with Minwax Natural Stain.

Step 4: Ipswich Pine

This is what it looks like after drying a couple of days, with Minwax Ipswich Pine Stain.

Step 5: GunStock

This is what it looks like after drying a couple of days, with Minwax GunStock Stain.

Step 6: Cherry

This is what it looks like after drying a couple of days, with Minwax Cherry Stain.

Step 7: Red Oak

This is what it looks like after drying a couple of days, with Minwax Red Oak Stain.

Step 8: Golden Oak

This is what it looks like after drying a couple of days, with Minwax Golden Oak Stain.