I am at the finishing stage with the project depicted below. After staining with Kibler’s iron nitrate and tannic acid and blushing with a heat gun, I rubbed the stain back some with a red scotch brite dipped in a mixture of Tried and True oil varnish and turpentine mixed 50/50 ish. Basically, I am following the same process Jim Kibler did in his video on the topic. However, I have three questions. The first is that now that I have a color I like, how many more coats of the oil varnish do I apply? Second is whether the successive coats should also be thinned with turpentine, or should the varnish be applied without reduction? And finally, the third question, is whether it necessary to also add a sealer such as Permalyn over the whole thing at the end for protection?
I’ve used LMF stains and Permalyn on prior projects, but this is my first go with the above process and with Tried and True. I’m happy with how it’s going this far, and don’t want to screw it up now. For what it’s worth, I am hoping to end up with a satin sheen, not high gloss.
Thank you.
Jay
