Testing Floor Finishes

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hWiHag-_GINIHTRpIEiOapiKO5gssuRfzitSOtE40-8IUw1Th6wn_wcP-R_LawQ68GmsV3EH9MmTmp1pXQSaCgRC3vYKvu-2nSqkZF1C6YeXyk2jNxl65RtwZtFZ3JzKyOA7naKdWNU/s1600/1-0+samples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hWiHag-_GINIHTRpIEiOapiKO5gssuRfzitSOtE40-8IUw1Th6wn_wcP-R_LawQ68GmsV3EH9MmTmp1pXQSaCgRC3vYKvu-2nSqkZF1C6YeXyk2jNxl65RtwZtFZ3JzKyOA7naKdWNU/s400/1-0+samples.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know if it happened staining the deck or slinging the new windows</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">around but somehow I end up with a dislocated sacroiliac joint--medical</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">term for "pain in the ass"--last weekend.  My chiropractor helped a little bit</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but it took a few days of icing before it finally popped back in when I sat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">up in bed on Friday.  Not a fun thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aside from hobbling back and forth to work and sitting on the couch </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">watching the World Series with ice packs, I wasn't able to get a lot done</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">except contemplate kitchen cabinets and do a few more floor samples.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAByIi1w2gSY2TcZAmkAihiVh6nDEox5AFXpVqJA-jIyahb2SyRRmW4XwiZvmc2u5Q648S_9P7B39wcXmOK13kX3IXMgx9lDaIIPHkl3xnwPHSTQOJInusAv-0Ky9gwtuzi0SjxDtCCRo/s1600/P1050040_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAByIi1w2gSY2TcZAmkAihiVh6nDEox5AFXpVqJA-jIyahb2SyRRmW4XwiZvmc2u5Q648S_9P7B39wcXmOK13kX3IXMgx9lDaIIPHkl3xnwPHSTQOJInusAv-0Ky9gwtuzi0SjxDtCCRo/s400/P1050040_2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ever since I painted my bedroom floors Benjamin Moore Gray Owl,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've wanted to paint more floors in the house.  Painted floors seem to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">be very transitional and work well in both traditional and modern settings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a light painted floor makes it always feel like summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But, if you've ever had a painted floor, you'll know it's not very forgiving</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in terms of showing dust, pet hair and miscellaneous pookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bGo7Fr5nTpxM56KREbniNDVEcSkNvx7nYFlzj1Wi5rmbRJlZt2JTgajUiqKYu8S5ow-iOtgKgdFdR4afjUz3ti6UYdM3wl67PBEuTJ1YhG3ix203GTo3Bxsi3VxLtmkBgGukggYPj-Y/s1600/IMG_1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6bGo7Fr5nTpxM56KREbniNDVEcSkNvx7nYFlzj1Wi5rmbRJlZt2JTgajUiqKYu8S5ow-iOtgKgdFdR4afjUz3ti6UYdM3wl67PBEuTJ1YhG3ix203GTo3Bxsi3VxLtmkBgGukggYPj-Y/s400/IMG_1694.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherry Hart's bedroom floors, photo Sherry Hart</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Inspired by <a href="http://toneontoneantiques.blogspot.com/2013/08/swedish-style-light-floors.html" target="_blank">Loi Thai's post on Swedish floors</a> and Sherry Hart's</div><div style="text-align: center;">bedroom <a href="http://designindulgence.blogspot.com/2013/08/staining-floors.html" target="_blank">floors</a>, I set out to find some techniques for pickling,</div><div style="text-align: center;">bleaching, staining and liming that I might use to create a light-colored</div><div style="text-align: center;">floor that still has some texture and variation to hide crumbs.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR5L3rO4ddEq4-75-BkWVlgSGjQ-tuCfsXK5dn_HJ_QOEi2X_yGLkx8Ma3YI7-7Ol1tyEznlJHlNvaFUS8HjHMTHhJTUvGl9TAmn6LpUzzbbdJx1N_Jnkca1dj5gUsk2v7uK4IUjTdpQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-03+at+5.53.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR5L3rO4ddEq4-75-BkWVlgSGjQ-tuCfsXK5dn_HJ_QOEi2X_yGLkx8Ma3YI7-7Ol1tyEznlJHlNvaFUS8HjHMTHhJTUvGl9TAmn6LpUzzbbdJx1N_Jnkca1dj5gUsk2v7uK4IUjTdpQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-11-03+at+5.53.25+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo:  Eleish Van Breems</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I found a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8JMH12RWE4" target="_blank">youtube video</a> video featuring Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems</div><div style="text-align: center;">of Eleish Van Breems design firm--recently seen on the "This Old House"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cambridge modern Swedish project--that demonstrates pickling and liming floors</div><div style="text-align: center;">using Minwax and Briwax liming wax.  In my later research, neither Minwax</div><div style="text-align: center;">nor Briwax recommend using these products on floors and one of the designers</div><div style="text-align: center;">concedes the [tortuous] process must be repeated every year or two.  No thanks! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVOGuoZeccgrMX_jOq9tNSop4E3lXQrhCcFDUTZVPYNUUMYvdfxtqVBAZrttv13TzRXEusQhfjwhZ2Nw0Pj8GLflhavI06DhzxfLEroka4JFc3Q7tUmrzaKqYwObT6J9xLS28xby79Y0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-03+at+6.28.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVOGuoZeccgrMX_jOq9tNSop4E3lXQrhCcFDUTZVPYNUUMYvdfxtqVBAZrttv13TzRXEusQhfjwhZ2Nw0Pj8GLflhavI06DhzxfLEroka4JFc3Q7tUmrzaKqYwObT6J9xLS28xby79Y0/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-11-03+at+6.28.54+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the Briwax on-line help forum I found a reference to using white grain filler</div><div style="text-align: center;">to get the limed look on floors.  But I can't seem to find it for sale anywhere.<br /><br />I did a few google searches for white wood filler and found two for sale.<br /><a href="http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020580/24868/Timbermate-Wood-Filler-Water-Based-8-oz-White.aspx?keyword=&refcode=10INGOPB&device={device}&network={network}&matchtype={matchtype}&gclid=CPPItd3jyboCFUGd4AodqDUAiQ" target="_blank">Timbermate </a>and <a href="http://www.goodfilla.com/" target="_blank">Goodfilla</a>.  The consistency of Timbermate was putty-like<br />and it smelled a little like magic markers; Goodfilla was a little more paste-like<br />and a lot easier to work with.  Here are a few of my test pieces:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECePBQ5cNnPKxUgrW7dbB5T4UW8J7mxDmtGA1PVC02IykvcU7nIDAdAXdZBWHNITSibhpQmQHrucKCP7f_tUPi_VjoA4ODPRGVxkDjvt2mRZ4Ll3day4Y1-mENgLplCETmHGlXYCIUjg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECePBQ5cNnPKxUgrW7dbB5T4UW8J7mxDmtGA1PVC02IykvcU7nIDAdAXdZBWHNITSibhpQmQHrucKCP7f_tUPi_VjoA4ODPRGVxkDjvt2mRZ4Ll3day4Y1-mENgLplCETmHGlXYCIUjg/s400/1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please note that all of these samples are on white oak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a sample of Benjamin Moore's oil-based pickling stain on top versus</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">white wood filler on the bottom.  I used a putty knife to apply the white wood filler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and when it was dry, I lightly sanded the surface which leaves the wood filler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in the grain.  I immediately loved the effect of the white grain.  It almost looks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">like wood that was painted and has worn back down to the natural wood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcc8tRtgwZZpb8MUOXxRrOWY2e_JBTAta2QGZzaqR9tbTj8l9aBAmzdLNQfrGUqEcxRcQ0DkIP4Gu9MDMMnFIeo5A9UnPfrMdihRvBL8vTNRUaYJbRhNJIg5s5prHR-Xi_00AisY-p7w/s1600/1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcc8tRtgwZZpb8MUOXxRrOWY2e_JBTAta2QGZzaqR9tbTj8l9aBAmzdLNQfrGUqEcxRcQ0DkIP4Gu9MDMMnFIeo5A9UnPfrMdihRvBL8vTNRUaYJbRhNJIg5s5prHR-Xi_00AisY-p7w/s400/1-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But when I added a Varathane top coat, a lot of the effect seemed to dissolve away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wasn't sure if it was the water-based finish that dissolved the water-based wood filler so</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tried using Benjamin Moore's oil-based pickling stain (no longer available) on the bottom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">half to see if it preserved the wood filler in the grain.  It didn't work very well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaly4zuqN6feATGivptjZgW0FHx8UpZojGxp7AC1GjhKEgaH9h5PSOC_Yu5wBpub8XBYDQrCDhZ-kdLpGxdXc3D9JrsTdEOVMxJYM0pADxfVaWz1Rni9sTroBYGsSBQfJ0DmaZ7gAdG4M/s1600/bleach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaly4zuqN6feATGivptjZgW0FHx8UpZojGxp7AC1GjhKEgaH9h5PSOC_Yu5wBpub8XBYDQrCDhZ-kdLpGxdXc3D9JrsTdEOVMxJYM0pADxfVaWz1Rni9sTroBYGsSBQfJ0DmaZ7gAdG4M/s400/bleach.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tried bleaching the natural color of the oak using Savogran wood bleach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It took a few coats of bleach to lighten the wood and it really raised the grain</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of the wood.   I'm not convinced I want to go this route.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tOYgs5xGJ7d4rZY3J1Mm5mc0-FUoIDCUszwewe3HwKJkOoLoib9xpXgssMGcyp-lzufGIS8jBu3eA0V19qifUFDvbSTq77TYbgZXmdv4O8SwQrTc5E73lQCW_CVFKUjvc7jf8bIvWEY/s1600/1-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tOYgs5xGJ7d4rZY3J1Mm5mc0-FUoIDCUszwewe3HwKJkOoLoib9xpXgssMGcyp-lzufGIS8jBu3eA0V19qifUFDvbSTq77TYbgZXmdv4O8SwQrTc5E73lQCW_CVFKUjvc7jf8bIvWEY/s400/1-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tried using the stain I used on the back porch.  It also dissolved the grain filler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and after the debacle on the back porch, I'm not sure I want to give this a try in the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSTk2g2G1AU4A1OLddyTJYXTqM3VtzEPB0FzdsuSLUdyCqrQtiAmk7gPEhBgtd_TgU10OgCXvLlqA4zuoatIVFSawAXz0WxfXRrr9D1J5-IotRWurwLh9jBECw34KpjgDgxMw-uYj90M/s1600/1-4+classic+gray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSTk2g2G1AU4A1OLddyTJYXTqM3VtzEPB0FzdsuSLUdyCqrQtiAmk7gPEhBgtd_TgU10OgCXvLlqA4zuoatIVFSawAXz0WxfXRrr9D1J5-IotRWurwLh9jBECw34KpjgDgxMw-uYj90M/s400/1-4+classic+gray.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought I would try a few Minwax stains right out of the can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Classic Gray.  Don't like it at all.  It seems very fake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkjk7A7xgsT1G-gOhwv5AJgxxcXs8JT0dKWDe_S6wXq0-pxyssMLqUjH4XmSIDfB9nJq6f1kkEG9hxHhNK78L80IB5Nk4POYMNIzsh4C2FedY6fhMbYGwMjSIqveE2FceTb36TOiGwBQ/s1600/1-5+limed+oak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkjk7A7xgsT1G-gOhwv5AJgxxcXs8JT0dKWDe_S6wXq0-pxyssMLqUjH4XmSIDfB9nJq6f1kkEG9hxHhNK78L80IB5Nk4POYMNIzsh4C2FedY6fhMbYGwMjSIqveE2FceTb36TOiGwBQ/s640/1-5+limed+oak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Minwax Limed Oak sitting on some of samples with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">white grain filler.  Another awful stain.  It was thick and white</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but none of the white penetrated into the wood.  There's nothing about</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this that looks limed and I wonder if it was bad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURb2vyM1ge0rS8OgETLqMsZJmpiiOvRd_1ZfUK8mn_QqNVQiwPGBIZ2SJqH5FZWCCnw0FEZoHr-AakbpccFgMFdmwQFqfOSUBa_RgWvtUrcyxmL9mWUCoMOFgePNidAEg0-Na46VF12w/s1600/1-6+weathered+oak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURb2vyM1ge0rS8OgETLqMsZJmpiiOvRd_1ZfUK8mn_QqNVQiwPGBIZ2SJqH5FZWCCnw0FEZoHr-AakbpccFgMFdmwQFqfOSUBa_RgWvtUrcyxmL9mWUCoMOFgePNidAEg0-Na46VF12w/s400/1-6+weathered+oak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Minwax Weathered Oak.  It actually darkens the grain.   A friend of mine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">said it reminded him of church.  Not a bad color  but it's too similar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to my other floors that are stained English Chestnut.  I don't think</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it would be a good juxtaposition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the lower sample, I tried the Weathered Oak stain on white wood filler.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the lower right, I tried tung oil on the white grain filler.  Again, it goes away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XHbB7it5kLD8FyBXVaoVYm3pW3Sp59TvzQxO0Bvkz7UZ7eDixzn3vNx46NQdOzQhbhKuHt3F_4kY4djis7bzanZ57Z6Bi2u5ZjbPL6exH_dbB0sZ-akjidq-VzSSOhFy7qpdKd19KNM/s1600/1-7+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XHbB7it5kLD8FyBXVaoVYm3pW3Sp59TvzQxO0Bvkz7UZ7eDixzn3vNx46NQdOzQhbhKuHt3F_4kY4djis7bzanZ57Z6Bi2u5ZjbPL6exH_dbB0sZ-akjidq-VzSSOhFy7qpdKd19KNM/s400/1-7+paint.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I thought I would try Sherry Hart's method of applying a solution</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">of 50% paint (BM Aura, Icicle) and 50% water.  It looks a little</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">blue in the photo because it was cloudy outside but it looks good in person.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite white but with some wood grain and texture showing through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the upper piece, I wiped off the paint with a wet rag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can compare these with the white wood filler samples in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQgbFzUsxHr2BzA5BoJAVr98O4y673IjefX6Bcs_0iDuzPGkzQ0Y5QtAL0pcEg6njbIVyxdVdqwCTLsXR8y94Mbqz4cJSilGOsQJ1-7vn_oW9M6p1wOjyINc0ewgjw3bvVca6ogy9iOY/s1600/1-8+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQgbFzUsxHr2BzA5BoJAVr98O4y673IjefX6Bcs_0iDuzPGkzQ0Y5QtAL0pcEg6njbIVyxdVdqwCTLsXR8y94Mbqz4cJSilGOsQJ1-7vn_oW9M6p1wOjyINc0ewgjw3bvVca6ogy9iOY/s400/1-8+paint.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, I tried lightly sanding the painted sample from the</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">above photo which left the paint in the grain and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">then I adding a top coat of tung oil.  This most closely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">imitates the sample of white grain filler with no top coat. </div><br />I think I'll try doing a larger sample to see how it looks.</div></div>

Testing Floor Finishes

I don't know if it happened staining the deck or slinging the new windows around but somehow I end up with a dislocated sacroiliac joint...

Read more »