Watco Oils vs Minwax Stain on Reclaimed doug fir?
#1
02-03-04, 01:58 PM
Watco Oils vs Minwax Stain on Reclaimed doug fir?
Hello,
I've discovered a source for wide plank reclaimed Douglas Fir planks that I will be installing in my living room,dining room and kitchen. It's been recommended by the guy who re-mills and sells this flooring that I use Watco Danish Oils. He claims it re-moisturizes and provides a degree of hardening to this softer wood. I know by contacting Watco they want you to wait 7 days! after applying the Danish Oils before you would apply a water based polyurethane. 3 days for oil based polys. Minwax customer support only wants you to wait 8 hours before applying a polyurethane. I prefer to use a water based poly as they will "amber" less over time. My questions are as follows:
1) Considering the wood I will be covering,what are the pros and cons to Watco Oils vs Minwax stains?
2) Do I really need to wait 7 days before applying water based poly over the Watco product?
3) Is there any product that will protect wood floors from fading in areas uncovered by area rugs? I assume using darker stains will make color shifts due to fading less noticeable?
Thanks for any thoughts,
wvdthree
I've discovered a source for wide plank reclaimed Douglas Fir planks that I will be installing in my living room,dining room and kitchen. It's been recommended by the guy who re-mills and sells this flooring that I use Watco Danish Oils. He claims it re-moisturizes and provides a degree of hardening to this softer wood. I know by contacting Watco they want you to wait 7 days! after applying the Danish Oils before you would apply a water based polyurethane. 3 days for oil based polys. Minwax customer support only wants you to wait 8 hours before applying a polyurethane. I prefer to use a water based poly as they will "amber" less over time. My questions are as follows:
1) Considering the wood I will be covering,what are the pros and cons to Watco Oils vs Minwax stains?
2) Do I really need to wait 7 days before applying water based poly over the Watco product?
3) Is there any product that will protect wood floors from fading in areas uncovered by area rugs? I assume using darker stains will make color shifts due to fading less noticeable?
Thanks for any thoughts,
wvdthree
#2
02-06-04, 06:27 AM
Member
1. I prefer Minwax and McClosky stains but that's mostly due to familiarity with their characteristics.
2. You always want to follow the manufacturers recommendations. They've tested their product and know what works best. If there were any warranty issues, they would blow you off if you had ignored their recommendations.
3. Fading due to sunlight is almost unavoidable and will show up faster on darker stains. You can minimize the fading by using cutains or drapes, low-e glass in the windows, and a UV resistant finish on the floor. None of these will stop fading, but they will slow it down.
2. You always want to follow the manufacturers recommendations. They've tested their product and know what works best. If there were any warranty issues, they would blow you off if you had ignored their recommendations.
3. Fading due to sunlight is almost unavoidable and will show up faster on darker stains. You can minimize the fading by using cutains or drapes, low-e glass in the windows, and a UV resistant finish on the floor. None of these will stop fading, but they will slow it down.
#3
02-17-04, 05:33 PM
A couple years ago I put Doug fir throughout a new vacation home, all floors except bathrooms and kitchen which are tile.
I got the same advice: use Watco Danish Oil and finish with a water based poly. The results were wonderful! There are enough choices in the Danish Oil that we were able to get the color we wanted. I guess I beleive the advice that the oil hardens the grain of the Fir, there's no way to really tell, other than to say the poly set up very well.
I cannot remember how long it was before the poly went on. Since it was a new house, it was not too inconvienient to wait -- don't know if you have that option.
In the time since it has held up well. There has been some discoloration in the areas that get sun every morning, but so far not much outlining etc. I'm not too concerned about it since the variability looks natural and adds character.
I have not noticed any yellowing, and as you say there shouldn't be much, though it's still early.
By the way, we used Minwax for all other woodwork, and have been very happy, but I don't know how it would look or hold up on a floor.
I got the same advice: use Watco Danish Oil and finish with a water based poly. The results were wonderful! There are enough choices in the Danish Oil that we were able to get the color we wanted. I guess I beleive the advice that the oil hardens the grain of the Fir, there's no way to really tell, other than to say the poly set up very well.
I cannot remember how long it was before the poly went on. Since it was a new house, it was not too inconvienient to wait -- don't know if you have that option.
In the time since it has held up well. There has been some discoloration in the areas that get sun every morning, but so far not much outlining etc. I'm not too concerned about it since the variability looks natural and adds character.
I have not noticed any yellowing, and as you say there shouldn't be much, though it's still early.
By the way, we used Minwax for all other woodwork, and have been very happy, but I don't know how it would look or hold up on a floor.
