Sunday 10 June 2012

How Many Wood Stains/Varnishes/Waxes Does it Take to Make a Decision?

Too many! With my bookcases due to arrive on Tuesday I have been playing with colours today. I want the flooring to be a deep, rich mahogany with a waxed sheen which sounds quite simple. The floorboards are cut from mahogany so all I need to do is enhance the natural wood.
The only problem being that I don't want the colour to be too red. I am not a great fan of the red mahogany you see on a lot of dolls house furniture. So I have been experimenting.......
Then, using the backs of a couple of pieces of furniture I have been trying out all sorts of finishes for the bookcase units. Again I want a very deep mahogany without the red......As there are so many bookcases I also need the finish to go easily and have depth from the start otherwise I could be staining and waxing until next Christmas!!!
At the moment I think I am looking at woodstain, 2 coats followed by at least two coats of coloured wax. 
Or maybe a coat of porcelain paint ( strange but it works ), followed by 2 coats of woodstain and then the wax.
I will be able to see better in the morning when the light is better and before I run out of practice wood!
 I have also added the first coat of 'grime' to the ArtMache. There are lots of different ways of doing this but because I am so cowardly my method is slow but safe! I make up my pot of dirty wash with ivory black and vandyke brown acrylic paint plus lots of warm water in a jam jar.
 I then paint it on the render and wipe it off with a baby wipe very gently so that I get a variation of depth and colour which you can just see in the photo. Once this coat has dried I then add another and another until I am happy with the level. Lastly I concentrate on particular areas that I feel would be particularly grimy.
I also decided that I would start making some very basic books for the bookcase that I am practising my mahogany finishes on. This bookcase will stand in the false hall behind the back wall door. So I have used some balsa off cuts in different thicknesses and will start the task of filling the overflowing shelves. 
This will also give me the opportunity to look through some mini-book tutorials and have a go at some of the techniques for covering the books.
I have a lovely collection of handmade books by many talented people but I want these to be more on show not hidden away on the shelves.
So 50 books to begin.........2000 more to go!
If anyone knows of any good online mini book tutorials I would be very grateful for the links.

16 comments:

  1. Good luck with the stain, I'm sure that in the end the trouble will be worth it. That's a lot of books! - I'm now beginning to wonder about the saneness (is there such a word?) of my plan to make the little bookshop as a neighbour from the brocante! Still, I guess simple bookmaking is a good thing to so while watching TV and maybe I'd better get started sooner rather than later altho it's a while until I'll need them. I'll rely on your good example to keep me on track :)

    Re the 'dirtying' don't be too worried about overdoing it since if you feel you have done you can overcoat that area with some of the under colour and it'll tone it down. My favourite finishing coat technique for grime is dry brushing, it catches on all the edges of raised texture just like the real stuff.

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    1. Hi Norma, you are right, books are a great winter project. Ideal for tray working in front of the fire and a good DVD box set!

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  2. I cheat when it comes to books...I use wood inserts with painted edges and printed covers. I have a few with pages that I can display, but even my cheater books work when displayed on tables. :D

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    1. Hi Brae,
      I think most of my books will be of this type. Essentially only the spine will be seen but my what wondrous spines these will be!!
      Ha! Ha!

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  3. Janice, try this link for mini book's :- http://creatingdollhouseminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/making-miniature-books.html

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    1. Thanks for the links Debbie. I have added both to my address bar ready for when I start making the books.

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  4. Also Nikki did a brilliant tutorial for mini books. Might be worth your while sending her an email...x

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  5. The best book tutorial I've seen is from Kris Compass.

    http://1inchminisbykris.blogspot.com/2010/08/stacks-of-books-part-1.html

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    1. Hi Tabitha,
      This is a very good tutorial as usual by Kris. Thank you for the link.

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  6. I love the finnish on the outside of your house.
    Good luck with so many books, i don't now a tutorial but i think you just have to cover the outside of the wooden blocks with printed paper or tin leather.
    Hugs
    Maria

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    1. Hi Maria,
      Progress is finally being made now the bookcases have arrived I need to get busy!

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  7. You have been so busy. Good luck with the staining and waxing. Best wishes, Carol :)

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    1. Thanks Carol. I think I have the right finish now!

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  8. I need to learn how to stain wood. My italian shop shelves are just embarassing!!

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    1. Staining the wood os the easy part....choosing the colour is the hard part!

      Your Italian shop is so gorgeous I would be terrified about staining it all the wrong colour. The windows look so enticing.

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  9. I don't want the colour to be too red. I am not a great fan of the red mahogany you see on a lot of dolls house furniture. So I have been experimenting......Sandpaper and abrasives for wood

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