Need Woodworkers help

[peppie]

Yes the Tiger Maple is the trim. sand everything to 220. I mix 50% boiled linseed oil with 50% mineral spirits. Flood the surface, let stand for 15mins, wipe off the excess, let dry for 3 to 5 days, depending on humi. and temp. Finish with a wipe on poly.

As for the prep on the water base dye sand to 220. Wet the wood with a very damp cloth. let it dry over nite. lightly sand with 320, this will knock off the fuss (rised grain)
some people will use a wood conditioner to help eliminate the blotchyness (sp) of some woods. Use the stain as dir. and top coat.
You can get the stain at most woodworking store. Rockler, The Woodworkers Store.
Just google wood dye.

 

[peppie]

Yes the Tiger Maple is the trim. sand everything to 220. I mix 50% boiled linseed oil with 50% mineral spirits. Flood the surface, let stand for 15mins, wipe off the excess, let dry for 3 to 5 days, depending on humi. and temp. Finish with a wipe on poly.

As for the prep on the water base dye sand to 220. Wet the wood with a very damp cloth. let it dry over nite. lightly sand with 320, this will knock off the fuss (rised grain)
some people will use a wood conditioner to help eliminate the blotchyness (sp) of some woods. Use the stain as dir. and top coat.
You can get the stain at most woodworking store. Rockler, The Woodworkers Store.
Just google wood dye.

 

[Donw]

So now you got me confused.... How do I know what grit to sand to? 150 or 400???

Does it not matter what kind of wood I use? Am I right that I can stain any kind of wood any color? The only difference in wood choice will be what grain patterns I want to see?

First you need to make a decision as to what your trying to accomplish. We can all throw out ideas all day long but without a goal its just conversation.
If you want to match your existing furniture then the choice is simple. If you just want dark with a close color match the choices are endless.
We have to be some what realistic. I assume since you posted this thread you dont have a shop full of woodworking equipment and dont have much in the way of experence. Supply is also an issue assuming you dont know of a local wood suppplier that can supply you with whatever it is you need.
Local home centers sell s4s. Lowes only white wood is poplar. Poplar is good for primed and painted interior trim work and not much else its way to soft for furniture. Home depot sometimes has maple its s4s and is way overpriced. On the other hand your going to get robbed because you dont have a shop full of tools so what ever the outcome bend over its going to hurt.
You need to at least make a goal and see if its doable in your budget. Understand that even elcheapo maple is going to cost you upward of $8 a bf at home depot. Normally that same material is $1.85 a bf.
Id love to be unrealistic and just say heck with it just use peruvian walnut it will match your other stuff color wise and you dont need to add any of that horrible tastless stain. By the sounds of it that would be fairly unrealistic. But on the otherhand would be a perfect choice.

Here is a crap of peruvian walnut. As you can see you can use the wood to match color or you can use stain. You just need to make some decisions.

Don