Woodworking & Finish Question

[crabbyman]

I am just beginning to dabble in playing with wood (*chuckles*) and I have a question.

For a present I am making a side table that will be in a bathroom. I am going for a rustic look with the table top and shelves. I bought some cedar and I am going to sand it down a little.

My question is... what kind of finish should I use for cedar in a bathroom?

Googling brings up as many opinions as asking about politics in OT here. Just trying to see what others may suggest.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I'd use poly urethane, catalyzed poly urethane..

 

[smackababy]

If the wood is not especially dark, I'd go with a oil based polyurethane. It will warm it the tones and give a good finish. If it is dark wood, oil or water based works because you won't notice too much of a change.

 

[*kjm]

In a bathroom I would go oil also with just starting out you may want to use a Gel it's way more forgiving.

I use General Finishes in a lot of the things I make and love it.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2005555/16556/general-finishes-satin-topcoat-gel-pint.aspx

 

[vi edit]

You could consider teak and then never worry about sealing it. $$$$ though.

 

[crabbyman]

Local stores do not have teak. I thought about it but did not see any and also did not want to spend too much on a simple project.

The cedar appears to be a young cedar or white cedar. It is lighter in color.

Doesn't oil poly smell for ages?

The suggestions I have seen online vary from Danish oil to water based polyurethane to linseed oil to shellac.

 

[*kjm]

Doesn't oil poly smell for ages?

Nothing that has ever bothered me... General has water base if you would like. It's sold at both Rockler Woodworking and Woodcraft both have OH locations with guys/gals that will want to talk with you for hours about your project

 

[jaedaliu]

maybe a couple weeks? I've mostly used minwax branded satin poly.

 

[WackyDan]

Use either an oil based poly or water based. Both will hold up well to humid conditions in a bathroom. Just be aware that the oil based and water based may look a bit different in tone from one another once on the wood and fully cured. You may want to buy a can of each and use on a scrap piece before committing to one or the other.

As far as smell.. Once poly fully cures you shouldn't have too much odor other than near surface odor. Water based will smell less initially but after a few days of curing and a coat of paste wax, oil based poly is not stinky at all.

 

[Sluggo]

If it has regular exposure to water, I would want a spar varnish on it. Otherwise an oil poly would be good.

 

[highland145]

rustic look

What Dan said. satin poly. I love a coat or 2 of paste wax applied with 0000 steel wool but that won't work well on a rough surface.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'd use poly urinestain, catheterized poly urinestain..

I second that. If you sand the wood smooth and dry brush it to remove any dust, cedar can have a nice shiny finish. Think of cedar chests....

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I've been impressed by the minwax 'helmsman'.... But as an amateur woodworker my biggest suggestion is to test... test... test... and test again... on scrap pieces before touching the final plank.

 

[crabbyman]

I've been impressed by the minwax 'helmsman'.... But as an amateur woodworker my biggest suggestion is to test... test... test... and test again... on scrap pieces before touching the final plank.

I saw that stuff. There is a mail in rebate right now for it too. I was just wondering if it was overkill for my project.

I do not think it will be soaked in water. It will sit next to a sink and may get splashed on though.

 

[crabbyman]

I second that. If you sand the wood smooth and dry brush it to remove any dust, cedar can have a nice shiny finish. Think of cedar chests....

I see what you did there..

 

[WackyDan]

I saw that stuff. There is a mail in rebate right now for it too. I was just wondering if it was overkill for my project.

I do not think it will be soaked in water. It will sit next to a sink and may get splashed on though.

Helmsman is made for stuff that will get rained on... outdoors. Overkill in my opinion, but if it is cheaper than poly after rebate then I suppose there is no harm there.

 

[crabbyman]

All Minwax poly urethane has a rebate right now. So it is not just the spar version.

I also have a coupon for Lowes for $10 off of $50. So I may pick up a few other things as well.