green.val•29d agoProlific Poster

Just refinished a 1930s oak dresser that was painted black, and the grain underneath is insane. What's the best way to highlight it without making it look fake?

3 comments

3 Comments

Know exactly what you mean about that old oak grain. I've seen some folks go way too heavy with stain and it ends up looking like a cartoon. What worked for me on a similar piece was just a few super thin coats of a clear, matte finish. It soaked in enough to make the grain pop without darkening the whole thing or making it shiny. A light hand with a tinted glaze in the recesses can add depth too, but test it on the bottom of a drawer first.

drewr1528d ago

Totally agree about the clear matte finish! That's exactly how I brought out the grain on an old table last year. I used a water-based polyurethane in a satin sheen, applied with a rag in really thin layers. The key was wiping off any excess almost immediately so it didn't sit on top and get plasticky.

park.miles28d ago

Try wiping on a 50/50 mix of polyurethane and mineral spirits for your first coat. It acts more like a sealer and soaks right into the wood without building up a film. Let that dry completely, then follow up with your full strength thin coats. That initial diluted coat really locks in the natural look and prevents any cloudiness.