I recently finished building a QS White Oak bench, shelves, and surrouding panelling for our mudroom entrance.
My goals in finishing are: - I would like to darken the wood (a little) and bring out more of the natural color, beauty, and flecking of the QS White Oak
- I want to give it a strong protective coat from the abuse and wetness that one can get in a mudroom.
I am at best a novice at finishing having only used basic Home Depot stains & polys.
So:
- How fine should I sand? Is 220 enough? Can I use my ROS the whole way or should I switch to by hand at some point?
- Do I need to seal or fill pores in White Oak before? If so, what products do you recommend?
- What type of stain works best on White Oak? Are gel stains better than "normal" oil-based stains? Any suggestions on brand or color to give it a little deeper & warmer natural oak color?
- What type of final finish? Poly? Shellac? other? What sheen is typically best for bench or panelling? (I'm thinking maybe satin???) How many coats?
I know some of the answers are subjective, but I would love to get some expert opinions.