Stain Mahogany Door
There are many finishing methods and finishing materials, which may be used on Deco Design Center mahogany doors. Mahogany has a relatively close grain and is easy to stain and finish. This is why it has been a favored furniture wood for centuries. The following is only a guide but is a proven way to achieve a finish you can be proud of when staining Deco Design Center custom mahogany doors and moldings. It is well worth the effort to properly finish your new door or wood moldings. The results are something to be admired for many years.
Small natural defects such as holes, knots or even an occasional wormhole are purposely allowed in these doors and add character to the door. If the door is to have a rustic appearance these defects may be left as they are, however, if a more formal look is wanted these defects may be filled with wood filler. Inspect the door for any handling damage, scratches, etc. Anything that won't sand out should also be filled. Tan colored, one part, paste wood fillers work well especially with darker stains. With lighter stains it may be necessary to pre-color the filler. Test a small area using the chosen wood filler/stain combination to determine if the color is suitable.
Even though the doors are pre-sanded at the factory it is good practice to lightly sand again with 220 grit either by hand or with a dual orbital sander. Remove any dirt or handling marks and carefully break all sharp corners. When hand sanding be careful to always sand with the grain of the wood. Do not sand across the grain! Cross grain sanding scratches WILL show up when the stain is applied.
If the natural wood color is used it is recommended that a stain is still used. Even a very light stain will even out the color variations and give more depth to the final finish. Before applying stain, clean any dust from the door. If compressed air is not available a turkey baster type tool can be used to blow dust from the cracks and corners. The recommended method of applying the stain is to brush it on and wipe the excess off with an old shirt or towel. Be sure to apply plenty of stain in the corners and along the joints at the edges of the panels. Wipe as you go, don't try to do too large an area at one time.
There are many types of stain including oil base, water base, stains with sealer and gel stains. Oil base seems to work the best as the colors are vivid and it does not raise the grain like water based stain does and Deco Design Center doesn't recommend water based stains on mahogany wooden doors. There are many brands of stain but the oil based stains work very well.
The color used in stains comes from either dye or pigment, sometimes both. When a can of stain is first stirred, if there is thick material at the bottom of the can that is pigment. If it is like water that is dye. Pigmented stains require more care when wiping to avoid streaks. Be sure to wipe in the direction of the grain as much as possible.
There are many choices for finishes, lacquer, urethane, varnishes, water base, oil base etc. Lacquer works well for interior trim and doors but for best results should be sprayed. Care must be taken, as it is flammable and hazardous to breathe. This applies to any of the oil base finishes. Lacquer dries very fast so there is less chance for dirt to get into it and it can be recoated soon after application. These finishes cost a little more but are easy to apply, non-hazardous, durable and give beautiful results. The oil-based urethane also gives excellent results but requires caution when using. These urethane finishes look best when sprayed but are designed to be brushed on. Foam brushes work well but the trick is to not over-brush. Apply the finish, smooth it and leave it alone. Brush marks will blend as it dries but over-brushing will leave streaks. Finishes usually are available in satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Satin looks very good on these doors. One thing to keep in mind is the higher the gloss the more defects will show, dust, sand scratches, etc.
Clean the door, dust with a tack cloth just before applying the finish. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the stain to dry especially if using water base over oil base stain. 24 hours is recommended. Depending upon the type of finish used, apply 2 or three coats. Between each coat lightly sand with a fine Scotch Brite pad.
Exterior doors need a different finish so they can withstand UV. This is the main cause of finish failure on exterior doors. Spar varnish can be used but is difficult to achieve a flawless finish and can yellow. Zar brand water based urethane is loaded with UV stabilizers and works well for this application. Because of these stabilizers it should not be used in interior applications.
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