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Woodworking Kitchens Design Dilemma

Finishing rift sawn oak plywood to look like rift sawn hardwood

2 years ago

Hello,
We are making cabinets for our kitchen reno using rift sawn oak. We used hardwood for the rails and styles on the door and MDF plywood with a rift sawn veneer for the door panel. The plywood is much lighter than the hardwood.
I would like them to match. Any suggestions?
We experimented with a white Rubio Monocoat on the hardwood and a blend of white and natural on the ply. Looks okay. Looking for other solutions. I am open to the hardwood being lighter or the plywood going darker. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

PRO
Beth H. :
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
can you show us what you've tried so far?

Since the veneer is so much lighter than the rails, you're doing to have to use a darker choice on the panels.

without experimenting w/some stain colors, going to be hard to advise you.

see if you can stain the veneer to be the same color as the rails, and then use the rubio.

try a Driftwood or weathered gray type of stain and see if you get close.

you may have to mix the driftwood w/a brown tone that matches your natural oak

maybe something like #5 or 3? these are bona Dri fast stains

Clockwise from top left: 1) white, 2) driftwood, 3) Bona Traffic w/o sealer, 4) BonaSeal w/o stain, 5) 25% white and 75% birch, 6) birch, and 7) sand dune
GreenDesigns
2 years ago
It will never match. Even if you briefly manipulate it, the two types of wood age differently over time. This needed to be a flat slab door, or a reverse raised panel.
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Hi, Sophie, Scherr's will do the clear coat. They will also do any Sherwin Williams stain. By specialty finish, if you mean the ceruse finish, I am talking to a local cabinet refinisher about it. He does not build cabinets. But I don't think it's likely we will go that route, for a number of reasons. Fori, thanks for weighing in. We will be ordering some sample doors. I have some white oak samples, so if we decide to stain, I may try some of the stains out before asking them to put them on sample doors. I feel the need to narrow the options down a bit first. The clear finish that Scherr's uses comes in two sheens: dulled rubbed (flat) and medium rubbed (satin). Does anyone know if the flat finish would hold up as well as the satin, be as easy to clean? Does the sheen determine durability and cleanability as well as the shine level? Thanks again!
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Lyn Nielson
2 years ago
I agree, they will never match.

But, have you tried a sanding sealer on the entire door first?

Then wipe on the stain of choice.
klem1
2 years ago
If you waited until doors are assembled, your first mistake was not staining everything before assembly. Don't make another by trying to different colors on panels and frames.
Mallery Merry
10 months ago
Did you find a resolution for this? Having the same issue now on our project.

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