Poly question. Different brands = different colors?

16 years ago

Installed unfinished/natural oak beadboard on my island today along with iron corbels. My cabinets are "natural" oak. The beadboard currently looks very white in comparison. I slapped some poly on a scrap piece and it darkened the color but the tone is off. The cabinets are slightly more orange and the polyed beadboard is more brown. I need to see it during the day. It might not look bad on the island but I can't mess this up. The veneer that was on before was slightly off and I don't think it was that noticeable.

Do different brands of poly have different tones? I had a can of Minwax polyurethane in "clear semi gloss" I tried. I wondered about staining first but then figured that with the poly would just make it even darker. ?

Suggestions? I'd post on the woodworking forum but it moves super slow. I'd like to have this done before Thanksgiving since I'm hosting.

Wasn't going to post a photo but here you can see the color difference. You can see at the bottom of the piece how light it is before the poly. Please excuse the mess.

{{!gwi}}

Painting the beadboard or cabinets isn't an option at this point. (not just because of Thanksgiving. :) )

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (4)

sue36
16 years ago
It could be the aging of the poly on the cabinets, the aging of the wood, or even that the wood itself isn't the same. I have white oak floors and the colors vary from blond to dark toast. Also, the poly on the cabinets might be oil based, is the poly being used on the beadboard water based? Some poly is non-yellowing, some isn't. I'm not an expert, this is all just based on my experience.
User
Original Author
16 years ago
Hmm... I have no idea what's on the cabinets. The poly on the beadboard is water based.

Seeing it during the day it actually isn't as off looking as I imagined. I think with it being on the island and not right against the cabinets I'll be ok. I moved it around and took some pics in different lighting. I AM even more concerned about when I add baseboard and corner pieces. The only place I saw oak base was Lowes but the color seemed very red. My cabinets and the beadboard are both red oak but I'm praying it doesn't look yet another tone at the bottom when I get it. I think I'll drag the beadboard piece into the store.
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User
Original Author
16 years ago
Ok I was incorrect. The poly I used is oil. I honestly like the browner look over the red/pink/orange but think it really should match the cabinets better? Thoughts on the color thing? I'm trying to hold off showing the whole island because I wanted to do Ta Da thread.

My cabinets are Merillat and I was snooping around their site trying to find what they use on them and found in the specs you can buy the colors and sealers?

I'm going to make some phone calls tomorrow. All this oil and water based, stain and poly is making my head spin. If I can get the same stuff that's on my cabinets that would be wonderful.

Here is a link that might be useful: See Page 136
User
Original Author
16 years ago
I find this very intesting and half confusing. I'm sure Merillat isn't top of the line cabinet brand but..

They say the sealers/topcoats have UV inhibitors in them. It also then states..

"Natural sunlight contains Ultra Violet (UV) light rays that may affect the appearance of your cabinets. Merillat has tested our wood species and finishes so that you may be able to determine the approximate effect that UV rays may have on the cabinetry in your home.

The tests we use follow the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standards for quartz ultra violet light (QUV). The actual results in your home will vary depending on these three factors:

1.Exposure to light (for example, direct from the south, east or west, or indirect from the north)
2.The portion of the cabinet that receives the light (top, base, etc.)
3.The wood itself. The finish does not change color, the wood itself will.
UV inhibitors have been applied to all Merillat cabinetry. With varying exposure to UV rays, and over time, color variations will occur"

What's up with #3? I thought the point of the UV inhibitors was so that it's protected and won't?