Posted: | Author: Gregory | Filed under: Process | Tags: custom door making, educational video, exterior door finish, exterior finish, finish test, how-to, instructional video, oil varnish, professional finishing, solid wood doors, Story Door Studio, Waterlox, Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish, woodwork, woodworking finishes, YouTube | Please Add Your Comment »
We recently tested the ability of Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish (Oil Varnish) to protect and seal solid wood from the potential damaging effects of atmosphere and moisture.
Methodology: In the video below we compare two cross-cut slices (of end grain hardwood), 1/16″ thick, one brushed with Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish (Oil Varnish) and one without any finish. The samples were then subjected to identical atmospheric conditions. Because moisture is conducted through tracheids (the long, hollow cells arranged longitudinally in wood); essentially, in this test we have sampled only 1/16″ of longitudinal cells thereby making the wood extremely susceptible to being impregnated with moisture. (What better way to test the protective qualities of a finish?) The results were dramatic and proved beyond doubt this particular varnish is more than acceptable for finishing our solid wood doors. Click the play icon below to watch the video:
Testing Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish
NOTES: For this test, the manufacturer’s specifications were followed. Regarding use for exterior doors, Waterlox does not recommend this particular finish for
direct exposure to weather or sunlight. For direct exposure to these elements, you’d want to use their Marine Sealer and Marine Finish. And though Waterlox is a beautiful, protective finish that we endorse, Story Door Studio does not exclusively finish our doors with this product.
Click here to see a door where this application was perfect and the results were superb.
One can find ways to purchase Waterlox here.
Posted: | Author: Gregory | Filed under: Custom Doors | Tags: 8'-0" door, arched lock rail door, arched-top door, architectural quality door materials, before and after doors, cast bronze hardware, custom door, custom glass, custom solid wood door, Dallas, Fluer-de-lis hardware, French Colonial adaptation, H Carl Trimble III, new and unique door, New Orleans door, non-standard sized door, replace transom window, Rocky Mountain Hardware, Sapele wood, Trimble Studios glass, Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish | Please Add Your Comment »
Fleur-de-lis ironwork. Arched brick lintels. Complimented by…a glass storm door?
The owner of this home, a French Colonial adaptation, was ready to refresh her home’s entry with a new, safer and more unique door. She wanted to enhance the place’s architecture while also making an artistic statement. Before, there was a arched transom window over a weakly-made, leaded glass door typical of the neighborhood’s building period. A large glass storm door further complicated the entrance. All of that was removed.
Here is the “before” image:
Conceived and built by Story Door Studio, the new door’s distinguishing features are a radiused lock rail and radiused windows (both top and bottom edges) which were to allow more light into the entryway—while increasing privacy. The specialty glass makes a strong statement and the carefully selected wood carries its own artistic symmetry. As is standard practice of Story Door Studio, this New Orleans-esque door is made completely from solid wood and architectural quality door materials. The new door also features a beautiful solid Sapale arched panel, over 30″ wide.
The wood species is a heavy African variety called Sapele. Sapele has the look and warmth of mahogany, but is almost twice as hard and more highly figured (a more interesting wood grain structure). This non-standard sized door was built: 8′ tall and 42″ wide, by 2-1/4″ thick. The Fleur-de-lis hardware is solid cast bronze from the craftsmen at
Rocky Mountain Hardware. The thick, tempered, 3/8″ custom beveled glass was crafted by H Carl Trimble III, at
Trimble Studios in Dallas, Texas. Please click the thumbnails for larger images.
