Thanks alot, actually we're looking at getting some wickes doors. I
hope they pass the tests below!


K














On 5 Aug 2004 11:14:11 -0000, Jerry Built
wrote:

anon wrote:
I am considering a stain or combined varnish and stain to
enhance the appearance of the [knotty pine ] doors. I am
looking for a lightish stain, or even a cherry wood type
effect. Any advice or recommendations?

Are these cheap (less than =A320 from B&Q) doors? If so, pick
them carefully to get the best ones - get several off the rack
and check they're not twisted (lie them on the floor or just
eye them up). After that, examine them carefully for damage
or poor machining, especially troughs where the timber has
been through the planer, and damage to the mouldings. If you
find any good ones, proceed. Look at the position of the knots,
you don't want ones on one face of the stiles only, as the knot
will tend to cause distortion on drying - the timber will try
to "bend" towards that face. Knots on the edge, or that go
straight through, are OK. Assuming any doors pass this
inspection, then prop them up in a line, and examine the
general "look" of the doors. Pick the best ones.

Don't use coloured varnish if you can possibly avoid it. It
will obscure the grain, and when it chips you will get light
patches showing. Instead, use a spirit stain such as "Colron",
which is available in a number of shades. You can mix these
together to vary the colour (if you do this, mix enough to do
all of a door or doors, so you don't have to mix another batch
part-way through doing a door). Wipe it on using a soaked
clean cotton rag (wear gloves or your skin will stain). It's
a *very* good idea to mask off around the door with a dust
sheet or something to prevent getting stain on anything. When
the stain is dry (allow plenty of time) rub the door over
with a clean cloth, and apply clear varnish - two coats may
be enough. Again, use *exterior* varnish, the sort you clean
off your brushes with white spirit, don't use quick-drying
water-washing varish. You should de-nib the result (rub off
lumps and pimples caused by dust etc. in the varnish) when
the first two coats are fully dry, using fine-grade paper
used on a sanding block, by hand, going very lightly - you
want to flat the surface, not sand it off. When that's done,
apply a coat of either gloss or matt varnish to finish it off.


J.B.