What stain/dye/varnish makes Birch the prettiest?

[WarPony]

I have built a TTT and a TD and used Birch ply on the outside and stained both of them with Minwax Colonial Maple stain. I really like the color but would like some other opinions from those who have built with Birch. Our new build is using cabinet-grade Birch but has ALOT more dark streaking (which I like) than I have ever seen..............



Those seams will be covered with trim and the profile will also be ringed with the same, kind of like 48Rob's CabinCar. We're going to use CPES on this build so please chime in on do's/do not's when using it.

Here's #1...........


#2........


Jeff and Anna

[doug hodder]

Jeff, you might want to try an aniline dye. It's compatible under CPES and epoxy top coats, comes in a variety of colors and since it's a water base, you can mix it up as light or as dark as you want and is pretty forgiving for touch up, in case you get it on a little too thin or heavy in places. It comes as a powder, you mix for what you want, make up a heavy base and thin it with water to suit what you want. Check out www.woodworker.com for the complete list of dyes. I've used Medium yellow maple on the interiors on a couple of mine, dark colonial red on the mahogany. If it's on too heavy...wipe it down with a damp rag, too thin...brush some more on, wipe it all down with a damp rag prior to top coating. Just an idea. Doug

[BrianK]

The analines are nice, you can mix them for an infinite number of colors and make them as dark or light as you want. I know a floor finisher/furniture maker who uses them exclusively. He also dampens the wood to raise the grain,lets it dry and sands prior to staining as the water-based analine stain would raise it and then you couldn't sand without blotching the stained wood. I hope that explanation makes sense. "Duraseal" has some some nice colors. This stuff is marketed for floors, but you can use it anywhere. A person usually has to purchase it from floor companies that finish hardwoods and not all of them use it.
Brian
P.S. Wear a respirator with the powdered analines.

[rtp123]

I am using a Minwax water-based polyurathane finish on birch interior skins. It does not 'yellow' like the oil-based polyurathane and varnish finishes do. It goes on fast and easy and clean up is just soap and water.

.

[mikeschn]

Stay away from Minwax water based stains. They don't go on evenly!!! (I have no experience with the water based polys with stain in them however...)

Mike...

[rtp123]

Mike:

I am using Minwax Polycrylic clear finish; it does not contain a stain/ color and it does not change the color of the natural wood.
I have tried oil based finishes in a "clear" application and they seem to yellow the color of the wood.

I do not have any experience with the water-based stains from Minwax.