staining a canopy to match the stand?

[myjohnson]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

up-date: I coated the stand two times and it's starting to look closer to the canopy.  Still not as close as I want.

I'll try to get pictures up soon.  Got to get my gal's camera.  

[myjohnson]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

Depending on whether or not your stand has a coat of polyeurathane or not, you might not have to strip it.

Why does polyurethane limit the number of coats I can put on the wood without sanding? Sorry for the noob question.

Thanks for the help so far everyone.

[alexarae]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

Polyurethane kind of hinders the coloration of the stain when you're trying to stain over it. Also, I've found from personal experience that my stain doesn't come out as smooth with polyurethane still on it. It sort of clumped off in come spots and went on thin at others. I ended up "liquid sanding" and then actually sanding...then staining.  8O

[myjohnson]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

Man that sounds like a lot of work.  Might be better just to buy one already stained.

If polyurethane hinders the coloration of the stain and the stain doesn't come out as smooth, why do people put it on?

Is it like a water proof thing?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

I think they are saying that the poly is the end coat....should not attempt to stain on top of poly.

[txfatcat]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

That is correct. Poly should be the last coat. This will lock the color in and protect it from water stains and such. After the polycoat get some minutewax paste. Scoop up some about the size of 2 golf balls into a  piece of cheese cloth. You can then rub the complete canopy down.   This will finish everything off real nice and the stand wont have that tacky or sticky feeling that you get sometimes with polycoat or plasticoat.

Here is something I found from another site and basically the same steps I have used in the past.

1) sand smooth with 120 or 150 grit
2) wet rag to raise grain and remove dust, let dry
3) another pass with 150 grit
4) For softer wood, apply a wood prep
5) First coat of stain, applied with foam brush. Let dry completely.
6) Sand with 150 grit. This will remove almost all of the surface of that coat of stain, but it leaves what's in the pores and crevices in the wood. Wet rag, allow to dry.
7) Second (allow stain to stand longer before wiping off for deeper color) coat of stain, allow to dry. Sand with 220. Wet rag, allow to dry.
8) Urethene layers, apply thin, smooth coats, allowing to dry COMPLETELY and following up with 220 grit and a wet rag.
9) second to last coat, follow up with 320 grit.
10) last coat, follow up with 0000 steel wool.
11) then the wax process as described above.

It can be a pain but once your done you have that great feeling of accomplishment.    I have found that unless you have a very specific setup for lighting and such, the cost for buying a canopy can sometimes be around the same price as to build one. This is before you even account your time into it.

[PhishPhreek]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

Excelent instructions CAT
are you a pro wood worker or just a serious amature ?

[txfatcat]

Re: staining a canopy to match the stand?

I have been very fortunate in my life allowing me to experience alot of things. I had a wood shop and fabrication shop at one time. I dabled in cabinetry and also had some speacial projects for my job here and there.

That being said I will comment that I know nothing about nothing.