Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | May 11, 2000 04:30pm | #1

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   I can only speak from my experience but I am very pleased with shellac. I refinished all the windows and doors - including new french doors - with plain orange shellac from Zinsser 3-4 years ago and they still look fantastic. Very easy application - three coats in one day - easy cleanup. I had planned to paste wax them but - having done one room as an experiment, haven't gotten around to others and most people don't notice difference. I also steel wooled one with #0000 and am leaning towards that as a final finish. It just kills a little of the hard gloss.
   This is interior only - exterior of clear finished doors is spar varnish.

1. 
   Guest_ | May 11, 2000 07:29pm | #2

   *Frank,You might try some WATCO danish oil in the natural. I installed custom pine trim in a couple of houses for a builder that used WATCO and the pine looked beautiful after two applications. WATCO can be left on by itself or it can be top coated with a wipe on poly.

1. 
   Guest_ | May 12, 2000 01:58am | #3

   *Frank, I have been using a old time formula for quite a few years and have had excellent results. It is equal parts tung oil, turpentine and spar varnish. Each coat is brushed on and left to sit for about 10minutes then wiped off. The look is natural, fairly flat and holds up well to the years. Depending on the wood and dust in the air, a light sanding may be necessary between coats. Three coats are what I usually do. I have used this mixture on pine, fir, redwood, birch, ash and oak and have noticed no unnatural discvolourations over time. It will smell for a while though. And remember to dispose of the rags properly, as they can combust. Walk good. david

2. 
   Frank_Biamonte | May 12, 2000 03:00pm | #4

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   How long do you have to wait between coats? How many coats would you recommend for the windows and the doors?

   Thanks.

3. 
   Frank_B | May 13, 2000 02:41am | #5

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   I am looking for recommendations for a clear finish for interior pine windows and doors. I am thinking that satin oil-based poly would be good. Any product recommendations? How many coats? Would a higher number of thinned coats be better than fewer unthinned coats? Other tricks and traps? Would a "spar" type poly be better for the windows?

4. 
   Guest_ | May 13, 2000 02:41am | #6

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   Frank, On our house the interior trim and doors are fir and the
   windows are pine. I detected no difference in application. We
   brushed on the first coat, let it sit for 10 minutes or so and wiped
   it off. Usually we waited at least 24hours between application though
   drying time varied. We lightly sanded with 220# sandpaper, wiped
   clean with a tack cloth before the next application. We found 3 coats
   provided an excellent finish. I have used the same basic mix for
   exterior use, but used a marine grade spar varnish (better UV
   protectants). Otherwise the procedure was the same. For our exterior
   doors I used 4 coats. Walk good.