Types of Finishes

Stain
All of our stains involve a multi-step process to achieve the perfect finish. First, a semi-transparent penetrating alkyd stain is applied and hand-wiped into the wood. Next, a high-solids content catalyzed sealer is applied. It is then air-dried and oven-dried before being hand-sanded to smooth the finish. A clear top coat is applied before the finish is oven cured again to bake in the durability. The result is a stained cabinet with even coverage and consistency. Because the finish is hand-applied to natural wood, there will be variations in intensity and color owing partly to the nature of the wood and partly to the hand-applied process. These variations are normal, and are considered part of the beauty of owning a custom finished wood product.

Tinted Varnish
Tinted Varnish produces a paint-like finish, opaque and colored, without any of the durability issues of a traditional latex or acrylic paint. Our Tinted Varnish finishes are catalyzed conversion varnishes which are far more durable and provide a far smoother finish than traditional painting methods. To create this look, we apply three coats of catalyzed varnish to the Maple or Oak components, sanding lightly between each coat to coax a smooth finish from the final coat. The finish is then top coated and oven cured for durability. Because the finish is hand-applied to natural wood, there will be variations in intensity and color owing partly to the nature of the wood and partly to the hand-applied process. These variations are normal, and are considered part of the beauty of owning a custom finished wood product.