"Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott"
et wrote in
:

dark, rich-looking, slightly reddish finish on a few drawer faces. My

Poplar blotches like crazy if you use a pigment stain (aka Minwax, etc.).
It's best to use a dye based stain.

If you must use a pigment stain (we had to so we could match the door
moulding w/ some other ancient door mouldings), do this:
- use a wood sealer
- sand
- use spray on polyurethane in a can
- sand
- put the pigment stain on (which now sits on the surface)
- use spray on polyurethane in a can
- sand
- use helmsman poly for a few more coats w/ sanding after each coat

This lets the pigment sit on the surface of the poplar (yeah, I know,
major hack)-:
If you've never used poplar, try some first. And use dye based
stain if you can (even if it fades in sunlight)...

Poplar is also pretty soft, so it's prone to denting. Cuts very
well though.


ken