Replies

1. 
   willflysatellitesforfood | Sep 23, 2006 02:24am | #1

   Jerrold:

   I'm certainly no expert, but have been dabbling in cabinetry/woodworking as a hobby/obsession in my spare time for nearly 10 yrs now.  Am currently having lots of success with wipe-on polyurethane/oil blends for my projects, but I've noticed that the "yellowing" tends to get richer with age, sun exposure, type of oil used, etc..  If you're trying to match an existing shade you might be better off sticking with the water-based approach.  If it doesn't give you the desired shade you're after right out of the can, consider "tinting" it.  I've had good luck with aniline dyes, but there's a whole raft of pros, cons and considerations.  I can strongly recommend the finishing books by Jeff Jewitt (Taunton) - I've got a couple of them and have gotten lots of useful tips.

   Bottom line is - if you're real picky, there's no substitute for experimentation.  It often can be a load of laughs just trying to find samples of wood that accurate match the shades and grain patterns of the piece to be finished!

   However, if you only need to "get 'er close", slap on a little "honey oak" Minwax and rub it out to the approximate shade, and then topcoat with something fairly clear.

   If only the finishing part were anywhere near as easy as the woodworking part...

   Again, depending upon how critical you are, I don't think you've asked an easily-answerable question.  Good luck...

1. 
   JerraldHayes | Sep 23, 2006 03:37am | #2

   Thanks WFSFF with regard to: "...I've noticed that the "yellowing" tends to get richer with age, sun exposure, type of oil used, etc." Yes, that's very true which is actually why we wont use a water-based varnish. We've already done a sample that matches in water-based poly-acrylic but the water-based poly-acrylic while tinted wont continue to yellow like the oil based varnish used on the other woodwork. The patina wont continue to develop so that why we want to use an oil based varnish. And while we have also done a tinted sample in oil based varnish (Minwax Fast Drying Poly-Urethane) that matches the tinting color we used was just a touch of ground yellow ochre pigment which while done so lightly you don't notice that the pigment is opaque and not transparent. I wasn't thinking and had forgotten about aniline dyes (and we just don't have any lying around right now too) so thanks for that memory jolt and that is probably the way we will end up going now that I'm thinking of it.

   But that said a master finisher I had the opportunity to work with many years ago once told me which types of varnish were yellower than others and it's been so long now that I just no longer recall which one were which and was hoping to get a brain jolt in regard to that too.

   I totally agree with your recomendation regarding the Jeff JewittView Image books and would add George FrankView Image to that list too. I just trying to short-cut leafing through the books and my FHB and FWW magazine collection looking for the answer since I happen to be working in front of my computer this evening.

   View Image

1. 
   sharpblade | Sep 23, 2006 04:25am | #3

   I have found the external poly and marine types of varnishes to be "yellower" than  something like the Minwax Fast Drying Poly-Urethane that you mentioned.

2. 
   alias | Sep 23, 2006 04:38am | #4

   Jerrald just out of curosity what is wood the varnish is laid over ?? Any guess-ta- mate on the age of the finish?? there are t wo diffrent types of varnish long oil varnishes , and short oil varnishes. long oil for exterior , short oil for interior. the resins determine the charateristics. the more oil the softer and durable the finish.." Crea la mitad de lo que usted ve, y nada de lo que usted oye."

   Edited 9/22/2006 9:43 pm ET by alias

1. 
   JerraldHayes | Sep 23, 2006 04:42am | #5

   White-washed white and red oak. 21 years.

   View Image

1. 
   alias | Sep 23, 2006 04:49am | #6

   there are diffrent type oils used , tung, linseed, even safflower. so its a short oil finish , pretty recent . maybe a poor quality varnish as far as the oil additive ..." Crea la mitad de lo que usted ve, y nada de lo que usted oye."

2. 
   JerraldHayes | Sep 23, 2006 05:32am | #8

   The varnish on the existing woodwork while yellow is not that yellow. The woodwork looks white with a slight yellow cast and it a really good looking pleasant patina that we want our new work to blend in and match with.

   View Image

3. 
   BillHartmann | Sep 23, 2006 04:54am | #7

   Why not ask Jeff over in his forum?

1. 
   JerraldHayes | Sep 23, 2006 05:32am | #9

   Didn't know he had a forum. Where is it?

   View Image

1. 
   alias | Sep 23, 2006 05:34am | #10

   http://www.homesteadfinishing.com great forum........" Crea la mitad de lo que usted ve, y nada de lo que usted oye."