Helping BIL with his motorcycle additon. Got a 44 x14 showroom/parts counter and a 14×14 parts room and 14×28 work area. Going to put up 3/4 Birch ply for finished wall. Had thought about painting it but it is too pretty and he is considering just a satin poly over natural. To cover up the seams we are going to shear thin diamond plate to use as latice and have baseboards of the same material. Going to make some sections slatwall (see Hitachi router thread).
We used Cabot water base satin poly on the six panel pine doors on our house and did not get any raising of the grain. Can we expect the same on the birch? Plan on rolling it but may have to spray. Would prefer to roll as want to keep overspray to min. Only the first two sections will get wall treatment at this time. May do Homosote for the work area which will house a lathe, welding, grinding, etc.
Suggestions please.
Replies
I used Minwax Poly-crylic on a beauty salon interior down near you. Worked great. I did use zinnser seal-cote first and a light sanding.
This was the Baltic/Russian/ Finnish birch tho'...
The american or whatever it is may have some glitches, like a VERY thin face veneer, or voids that telegraph to the face from below.
Either way, I always raise grain on all my projects prior to finish..just an old habit.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi
Thanks, but were you doing about 1500 sq ft of surface? I can see doing that for cabinets or something of that scope. We used water based Cabot stain (actually the stain base) to whitewash eastern white pine 1x6 t&g ceiling and it did not seem to raise the grain either. I guess could roll, polesand, reroll.
Edited 3/23/2005 8:24 pm ET by RASCONC
1500 sqft? lets see...almost 50 sheets..? How thick?..How much per sheet?
Sheetrock and slatwall..LOL
Seriously the Sealcote helps with the grain raise, and yes, a polesander makes quick work of it. All ya need is 220 or 320.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi
Id spray it. I use enduro coat.....use their sanding sealer and it depends on te sheen.
Ultra Flat/ Fla it will keep its natural color
semi ect
you can even get it with a amber tint if you want the O/B finish look
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
....
Oh yeah..and I'd be spraying it b4 I put it up too.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi
I believe he got it for $10/sheet. Eat your heart out. They are rejects with one good side. All 3/4 but he had about 8 sheets if 1" for work tables etc. Columbia Carolina Plywood plant is here. I tried to broker a deal for Dino, hopefully an outlet company across the street will be in touch with him.
Will look into your suggestions. This may be my justification for the hvlp setup.
An oil finish (like Danish oil) looks great on birch; seal it in with water-based spar varnish.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I have a couple of 4/0 solid core door that I use for workbenches. I just slapped some leftover varnish on them and was amazed at how good they looked.