Too hot to saw

[Norm]

The weather in Iowa has been more like what I imagine you folks in the Southern US have. Heat index's in the low 100's.

So I have been working on the staircase for our new house we have been building. The frame is metal ( the yellow is primer but my wife kind of likes it ) and the treads are alternates of flat-sawn walnut and q-sawn red oak. The treads are 2" thick 10" wide and 37" wide.

I'm curious if anyone has a suggestion for a finish to put on them.

 

[Bro. Noble]

Norm,

Looks beautiful!

We just refinished the hardwood floor in our dining room.  We used a polyurathene satin finish.  It isn't glossy and really shows off the grain.

I suppose you could get something gritty to add to any finish that would make the stairs less slippery, but it would probably detract from the appearance.

The worst thing about our floor is that my wife likes it so well she has been thinking up all kinds of home improvement projects.  

Noble

[Frank_Pender]

Norm,
   I would suggests a stright clear Danish oil.   The reason I suggest this, is that stairs take a real beating of wear.  With the oil you simplye claean the surgface and reapply the oil as it does not chip or wear like the urathanes will wear and chip on occassion.  You might want to try some on a sample board before you place some on the steps themselves.  The best of luck with whatever decision and material you chose to apply to the steps.

[Frank_Pender]

Speaking of toooo hot to saw , I was last evening and again this morning.  I wa s slabbing on a 3' spalted Western big L:eaf Maple and hit a bit of tramp metal with the chain.  So, I quit for the evening (last) and headed for supper.  this morning at 6:30 I thought I would merely move the track and carrage fo my Mobil Dimension Mill a bit higher and make the slab 2" thinner as well as miss the metal.  No go!  Again I struck the item.  I then tok my 025 with a 16" bar and began cutting away some of the wood in the direction the metal. I eventually uncoverd a utility pole anchor that had been place onthe tree by the power company some 40 years ago.  The bold was 3/4" in diam. by 20" long and still had the nut and washer attatched, without any wire.  They had simpley removed the anchor cable and left the *^%$#(&&^%@! bolt.  I then examined the chain and found no real damage.   8) 8)  Since then the temp around here has subsided a bit and so have I. ;)

[CHARLIE]

I second what Frank recommends. Finish the stairs with clear Watco Danish Oil. It soaks into the wood and leaves a soft luster.

[Brian_Bailey]

For a more durable and easily repaired finish.  Try mixing 1 cup of boiled linseed oil with a quart of varnish or polyurathane.  This gives you a wiping varnish.  Just wipe it on then wipe it off when it gets a little tacky.  Let dry then do it 2 or 3 more times.  I use this finish on most of the furniture I make.  It's a nice finish for a more natural look.  Brian...

[Corley5]

On the panelling in my house (black cherry, red oak, sugar maple, white ash, red pine, white pine) I mixed one part of linseed oil to two parts of paint thinner and rolled it on.  It brings out the grain with out changing the color.  Sort of gives it a wet look.  On my floors which are sugar maple and white ash I applied the same concoction and then applied to coats of Min-Wax water based poly urethane.  I'm not happy with the way the Min-Wax has held up >:( :( and wouldn't recommend it.

[Corley5]

On the subject of it being too hot to saw.  Yes it's too hot to saw up here also.  At the tractor show in Walloon Lake the past two days it has been really hot.  Dad and watched the guys sawing in the mill for a while and got tired just doing that.  They were running it at that time with a medium size Case steamer.  I'm not sure of the model but it was doing a nice job.  The guy tending it looked to be having a good time but he was sure sweating.  I'd much rather dump in some fuel hit the key and start sawing.  The club's mill is a Sinker-Davis circular.  Nice mill all on steel not real big but with a 16' carriage with two dogs and 3 headblocks.  They do a nice job of sawing with it.  Nice true lumber only saw one 2x8 that was thin on one end in the four logs I watched them saw.  I prefer sawing in the spring and fall.  It's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

[woodmills1]

for flooring I use a zinseer product called target floor finish.  It is a 2 part urethane with a hardner that is added just before use.  they advertise it as "puppy proof".  It has held up well for me.

we had a round of over 90 days with high humidity last week.  I kept Ice water near the mill for a quick head dousing, not for those with heart problems.

[Norm]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm not much of a woodworker but since I got this "sawdustintheviensitus"  ;D I find that I have a new respect for the wood I saw. Convincing my wife that I need a new shop full of tools is a lot easier if I actually make something with em. The oak came from a tree that we had to remove when I built the pond by our house, it was the biggest red oak I had ever seen but since it was in a cow pasture the inside was rotted out by carpenter ants. When we tried to move it with the cat it just broke the cable so we pushed it instead, cut it into 7' lenthts as that was the most my loader could handle and ripped it in half with a chainsaw. I think I got about 900-1000bft from it. It has alot of defects in it but I like wood with character. The walnut is much the same story just not quite as big. Real satisfying to give these trees a new life as such.

When we were kids and baled hay in these temps the stock tank had a windmill that pumped the best cold water in the world. At the end of the day we would jump in clothes and all, best feeling bath I ever took.

It rained 1.5 inches yesterday and todays temps are to be in the mid 90's, thank goodness for air conditioning.

[Frank_Pender]

You know, Norm, the more I return to this sidte to see the comentary, the more I like your staiway.  Just looking at it makes me feel cool.  I have great envy for their look and the design of wood and metal you have put together.  Tha alone should allow you to get all of the toys you wish for, before, during or after Christmas. :D :D